Congress could gain if it can change public perception of Modi’s incorruptibility

The Congress would like to call demonetisation the biggest scam in India’s political history. The party’s vice-president Rahul Gandhi and senior member P Chidambaram have said so already. Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala repeated it on Thursday.

However, as none offers any specific case of wrong-doing involving either Narendra Modi or any other BJP biggie or the party for scrutiny, the allegation sounds hollow. The BJP has laughed it off, indulging in a bit of whataboutery.

But it should be careful. The Congress may not exactly be looking to catch thieves; it could be playing the perception game. It senses that Modi’s aura of infallibility has taken a hit after demonetisation — the first time since he came to power in 2014 with a thumping mandate — and it stands a chance to catch up with him now.

The post 8 November scenario has also provided Rahul the right platform to buttress the pro-poor image he has been trying to build assiduously over the last few years. The Congress is also aware that with nearly half of the government’s tenure left, the party still has time to recover lost ground and throw a credible challenge to the BJP in 2019.