Rahul Gandhi & Gabbar Singh in Karnataka election campaigning

No, not Pawan Kalyan’s Gabbar singh but we are talking here about Gabbar singh in mid-1970s Bollywood blockbuster Sholay. Karnataka election campaign is on full swing and words are being exchanged sharply. Rahul Gandhi, during one such campaign attacked Modi by comparing BJP candidates fielded as Gabbar singh team.

In his rally, Rahul Gandhi said ,“There was Gabbar Singh in Sholay picture. You (Modi) brought Gabbar Singh Tax. But this time, you are trying to put the entire team of Gabbar Singh in Karnataka Assembly, meaning there is Gabbar Singh, there is Sambha, there is Kalia, , and all of them… And you tell the country that you are fighting against corruption”. He told these in a Congress rally in Bidar. Obviously, he was ridiculing BJP for fielding brothers and confidants of tainted mining baron G Janardhana Reddy in the assembly elections. In another rally Rahul asked Modi to explain to the people of Karnataka why he also chose a tainted B S Yeddyurappa as the party’s chief ministerial face for Karnataka.

However, Rahul Gandhi’s statements did not get desired impact. Because, people of Karnataka have very fond memories of Gabbar Singh and Sholay. The film was shot in Ramanagar, a place between Bengaluru and Mysuru and Ramanagara is now favorite tourist spot in Karnataka. Moreover, this is not first time Rahul is using Gabbar Singh narrative in election campaign. He did same during UP elections too where Congress failed.

At the time of this fierce battle, people of Karnataka expect him to hit Modi on Achille’s heel rather than giving rhetoric like this.