How will 'shivbhakt' Rahul Gandhi be back to his 'secular' polity?

Lucknow: Newly-elected President of Congress, Rahul Gandhi, at least, deserves a consolation prize in Gujarat polls, if not more. But then... the trying times for him starts now. Would he be able to sustain his soft-hindutva image in the politics which he was forced to portray in Gujarat assembly polls.

The 'darshan' of 27 temples, Janeu (sacred thread of Hindus) , Rudraksh and even pronouncement of being 'Shiv bhakt'. This was new Rahul and new face of the Congress, deviated from carefully preserved image of a secular party and self-proclaimed saviour of Muslim minority in India.

ALSO READ: Congress sinks in Gujarat due to Rahul’s negative politics: CM Yogi

The Gujarat battle is lost but the question remains as how long will it take Rahul to shred off his Hindu attire and get back to what his party professed for all these years. The campaigning in Gujarat was devoid of pro-muslim rhetoric simply because the Congress was wary of BJP's attempts to polarise the election. BJP won the elections but left Rahul Gandhi and the Congress high and dry on the newly-crafted image of a soft-Hindu.

Even the arguments of some political analysts are to be believed that the Congress is poised to stage a comeback in national politics, will it be acceptable for all so-called secular parties to join hands with the Congress, which is seen more as a follower of Hindu philosophy rather than adopting the secular polity.

ALSO READ: ‘Savage’ personal attacks made Rahul stronger: Sonia Gandhi

The arch rivals of Bharatiya Janata Party like Lalu's RJD and Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party are faced with a peculiar situation even as they are mum on this until now. Will Akhilesh be in the company of Rahul in 2019 Lok sabha elections after latter's new soft image. Will the 'Maha Gathbandhan (Grand Alliance)' take place under the leadership of Congress whose leader was seen more in temples during entire Gujarat polls.

On the personal note too, how can Rahul recover from the shock of Gujarat with feet in two boats. The post-Gujarat politics of the country is not going to be the same, certainly not with the same Rahul Gandhi. Let us see.