Kottayam: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi delivered a heartfelt speech during his visit to Kottayam, Kerala, emphasizing the emotional essence of politics and the importance of genuine connection with the public.
Targeting both the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Gandhi said, “I fight the RSS and Communist Party of India (Marxist) ideologically and I fight them in the realm of ideas… My biggest complaint with them is that they don’t have feelings for people. You can give whatever speeches, if you don’t feel for people, you are not ready to connect and hug people, you will not be a leader.”
He further highlighted the emotional cost of true public service by recalling the legacy of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. “In my 21 years of political life, one of the masters of politics of feeling was former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy ji… I literally saw him kill himself for the people of Kerala,” Gandhi remarked, drawing praise from local party workers and supporters.
Speaking on the values he believes define true leadership, Gandhi said, “True politics is not about what you say or what you think, it is about your ability to feel what people are feeling and if you want to feel what other people are feeling, you have to curtail your greed, anger…”
