GETTING THE MESSAGE
There does seem to be some degree of bonhomie between Digvijaya Singh and Shashi Tharoor recently. Apart from being candid enough to speak their minds, the duo were seen seated together at the party office during the flag hoisting of the 140th anniversary of the Indian National Congress.
Not just that, but last fortnight the duo were also seen lunching together at The Chambers at Taj Mansingh. Given that (at separate times) the duo have voiced concerns about the functioning of the party and seem to be on the same page regarding its declining organisational strength, they must have had a lot to talk about.
In fact, at the party’s Foundation Day, when asked to comment on Digvijaya Singh’s comments, Tharoor had indicated that he agreed with the expressed concern that the Congress organisation needed to be strengthened, but also added that Digvijaya could speak for himself. To recall, a day before the CWC meet, Digvijaya Singh had created a flutter by lauding the organisational power of RSS-BJP on social media. To make his point he had shared an old picture of Narendra Modi sitting on the ground beside LK Advani, who sat on a chair. And commented about how a grassroots worker went on to become the Chief Minister and Prime Minister by sitting at the feet of his leaders.
Therein lies the irony. While Digvijaya may be trying to convey the message of a grassroots leader climbing up the organizational ladder, the subliminal message from that picture is also what that grassroots leader did to his seniors once he became Prime Minister. No surprise then that Digvijaya’s comments did not go down too well with his party leadership.
ENGAGING WITH THE GANDHIS
The year ended with a great deal of buzz about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s son Raihan’s engagement with Aviva Bidapa. The young man signs off as RRV—Raihan Rajiv Vadra—and has been in the news earlier due to his photography exhibitions in the national capital.
He has also been seen along with his parents and Uncle Rahul Gandhi in various family photographs. Interestingly, his first exhibition in the national capital was entitled “Dark Perceptions” and during the viewing the entire gallery was in darkness with lights coming on briefly under each canvas. The idea, as Raihan then explained, was to showcase a theme that darkness is freedom and perception is the prism. In other words, the brief play of lights gives you a glimpse of his work but then the darkness gives you the space to make what you will of the brief impression once the frame is shrouded in darkness.
That is also the way he may perhaps want to live his life, between the headlines and the shadows, for he is clearly yet to decide if he will follow his family into public life or follow his passion for photography and wild-life. Again, the latter is something he has inherited from his grandfather (and mother) for the late Rajiv Gandhi was a keen photographer. Interestingly, photography is a passion that he shares with Aviva as well.
While Raihan figures out what his future holds, the amount of interest his engagement evoked on social media at least proves one thing—that the Gandhi mystique still counts and evokes a fair amount of interest. So hold off on the RSVPs for a while.
TWO POLITICAL DEBUTS OF 2025
The Year 2025 saw two very interesting political debuts. One was that of the first time MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who impressed her opponents and family cynics with her performance in Parliament. It was not just her rhetorical flair but also her political savoir faire that caught attention as she ended the year sipping a cup of tea with the Prime Minister.
This is precisely the way her grandmother, the late Indira Gandhi would have played the game and honestly, it is also the way the Prime Minister himself conducts his politics. By taking on the opponent on the floor of the House but also being mature enough to exchange social niceties when the occasion calls for it.
The other debut is that of the new BJP president Nitin Nabin. He has both age and enough experience on his side to avoid the novice tag. It would be interesting to see what he makes of his elevation, for he has certainly been handed an enviable opportunity on a platter. These are two faces to watch out for in 2026, as is the political debut that did not make it. What will Prashant Kishor do next, one wonders
