Not New But Real Rahul Gandhi Emerging Out Of Bharat Jodo Yatra, Says Jairam Ramesh

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Gandhi's interactions with civil society, party workers and his super fitness are what comprises the "real Mr Rahul Gandhi."

"It's a transformation of the Congress party and it shows the real Rahul Gandhi coming out. I would not say it is the new Rahul Gandhi but the real Rahul Gandhi that is being seen," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Friday, PTI reported. 

Gandhi's interactions with civil society, party workers and his super fitness are what comprises the "real Mr Rahul Gandhi," said the Congress leader. 

The statement came on the completion of one month of the Bharat Jodo Yatra today. 

Earlier in the day, Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "None of us could have imagined what the #BharatJodoYatra would be like, but I can assure you that walking with my senior and fitter colleague @digvijaya_28 and the Seva Dal is nothing short of inspirational. I salute their commitment and dedication!"

"The biggest achievement is psychological. It's all in the mind. I think what the yatra has done is to show to the Congress party that we can do it.  "We are on the roads, on the streets, we are fighting the BJP. We are taking the battle to their camp. We are raising issues. We are not reacting. Now the BJP is reacting to us and that I think is the greatest contribution of the yatra. It's psychological rather than electoral," Jairam Ramesh stated in an interview to PTI. 

When asked about the Congress president's election,  he said the "houseful evening show is the Bharat Jodo yatra and the organisational election is a side show as far as I am concerned," PTI reported. 

"The narrative setting show is not the Congress president's election but the Bharat Jodo Yatra," he added. On a non-Gandhi all set to lead the party, he said Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have a special place in the Congress because of their contributions and legacy.  

"The foot march as the longest ever undertaken by anyone and stated that it will help the Congress psychologically strengthen itself," news agency PTI quoted Ramesh as saying. 

Ramesh said when Jawaharlal Nehru became the Congress president for the first time in 1928, Mahatma Gandhi wrote to him saying you are wearing a crown of thorns.  "It's a crown of thorns. I think it's certainly a historic moment as we are the only political party to hold elections for the post of the president in a fair, transparent and an impartial manner. But as I said it is a side show. The main show is the Bharat jodo yatra," Ramesh said.

(With Inputs From PTI)