Beard For Bharat Jodo Yatra’s Success?

New Delhi: A beard is a sign of two things in India — masculinity, and asceticism. But asceticism and politics rarely get a point of intersection.

During the Covid-19 peak days in 2020, Prime Minister Modi was seen with his long beard and now Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has grown his beard to twice the length it was when he launched Bharat Jodo Yatra.

While Congress leaders and supporters say it is a sign of change, Bharatiya Janata Party and other oppositions say it is just a ‘show off’ to woo people.

Gandhi, through the yatra, is also being projected as a leader who is open to listening and understanding what the people have to say.

But is that beard look symbolises Rahul’s significance in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections?

His beard look has drawn direct flack from Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma that Rahul’s beard made him look like Saddam Hussein.

Previously, India had no particular disposition towards bearded parliamentarians.

PM Modi did not shave off his beard and hair for months and several speculations have been made for the reason for not getting his hair cut.

Then everyone speculated that PM Modi is not shaving his beard and hair as he vowed not to shave them until the Covid period is over.

And now, people saying that Rahul Gandhi has vowed to clinch the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra as part of his 2024 election campaign and he will only shave his beard and hair after ending of the months-long campaign.

Rahul Gandhi started the journey from Kanyakumari representing Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 7 and has reached Madhya Pradesh.