India’s election season is in full swing, with crucial assembly elections scheduled for Maharashtra and the second phase of Jharkhand on November 20, followed by Delhi. Various states are also gearing up for by-elections on multiple assembly seats.
As political campaigns intensify across the country, an interesting twist has emerged: U.S. President Joe Biden’s name is now part of the discourse, with his memory lapses becoming a focal point of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s campaign strategy against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This strategy, reminiscent of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach in the 2020 U.S. elections, seeks to question PM Modi’s sharpness and credibility by comparing him to President Biden. The move has sparked reactions from across the political spectrum in India.
Playing the "Trump Card": Rahul’s Strategy
In the lead-up to the 2020 U.S. elections, Donald Trump frequently mocked Joe Biden’s memory lapses, suggesting that Biden was unfit to lead. Trump’s tactic aimed to cast doubt on Biden’s mental acuity, gaining him some traction among voters. Though Biden ultimately won the election, the “memory card” has since become an infamous rhetorical device in U.S. politics.
In a similar vein, Rahul Gandhi is now employing this tactic, referring to PM Modi’s memory as weak. By associating Modi’s alleged memory lapses with Biden’s, Rahul aims to make Modi appear disconnected from current issues and detached from the challenges India faces.
Targeting Modi's Memory: Rahul's Remarks in Maharashtra
At a recent rally in Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi made direct comparisons between PM Modi and Joe Biden, asserting that Modi’s memory is faltering. “PM Modi has lost his memory,” he said. Rahul said that even his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had pointed out Modi’s tendency to repeat Congress’s rhetoric.
Gandhi claimed that Modi has been parroting Congress’s statements, suggesting that his speeches often echo Congress’s talking points. He suggested Modi is unaware of this tendency, likening him to Biden, who occasionally needed prompting during speeches and meetings.
Rahul referred to an incident involving Biden and Ukrainian President Zelensky, alleging that Biden confused Zelensky with Russian President Putin—a moment that highlighted Biden’s memory issues. Drawing a parallel, Gandhi implied that Modi, like Biden, needs to be reminded of his statements.
BJP Dismisses Rahul’s Claims
In response to Gandhi’s comments, BJP leaders have dismissed his remarks, accusing him of irresponsibility and misdirection. Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari addressed the issue, suggesting that Gandhi’s statements should not be taken seriously. Gadkari argued that Gandhi’s rhetoric was both disrespectful and detached from the realities of governance, implying that Congress’s criticisms are built on flimsy foundations.
Will the Strategy Pay Off?
It remains uncertain whether this tactic will yield tangible political benefits for the Congress party. The BJP’s dismissive response suggests that it believes Gandhi’s strategy lacks resonance with the electorate. Whether this gambit will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the stakes in this election are high, and both sides are pulling out all the stops.
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