Bharat Jodo Yatra takes a break. It is time they think about the Yatra’s future course and beyond.

After walking for almost 3000 kilometers Rahul Gandhi and his entourage are resting in Delhi before they march again on January 3 towards their final destination in Kashmir. Rahul Gandhi has come a long way both physically as well as metaphorically. It has been a welcome transition from a shy boy eight years ago to a confident-looking gentleman who is daring to take on his opponents and braving all attacks on him. Indeed Bharat Jodo Yatra has been a game changer at least for him if not for his party. It would indeed be much more to revive the party at the hustings and win the elections. Winning hearts does not automatically translate into winning elections. A lot more goes into it like strategy, groundwork, ideology articulation, and of course an articulator. No doubt the party which was lying almost dormant  is awake and even its workers look energetic and confident. The same party which took all the jibes without any fuss is now retorting to every criticism of Yatra and Rahul and succeeding in pushing the BJP back. What is more, this yatra has shown that the party’s organizing skills are intact and it can manage to mobilize its workers on the ground across the country. Another comeback has been in terms of coverage and media attention. Though the media is not friendly to him it has certainly taken note of it. It could not ignore him for the sheer consistency and magnitude.

The big question is what next. Now that the Yatra would resume on January 3, its organizers would have time to review its progress and what it lacks. Though the people’s participation in the rally has been phenomenal, opposition has remained cautious and skeptical and hasn’t come along. The party has done well to invite Akhilesh Yadav and other parties to walk along things might change. If the congress party wants to make a comeback it would have to think beyond Yatra and devise a strategy to reap the harvest and channelise the goodwill generated by the Yatra. Another drawback the congress party has and which is not going to wither away by yatra is internal bickering which is harming its prospects. Gehlot – Pilot feud is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more disgruntled leaders in the party who have to be pacified. Last but not least Prime Minister Modi Is still far ahead of Rahul Gandhi in popularity and as charmer and that would be the toughest challenge for Rahul Gandhi and his party to counter.