There is an age difference of roughly 20 years. But politicians are practically ageless. And when a caustic tongue is the norm, age never comes in the way. Both Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi are at each other’s throats as they woo voters. But while Gandhi has to keep a lookout for the Election Commission, and a hold on his tongue, besides the various courts, Modi does not have the same handicap. Modi often gets away with the outrageous during his campaigning.

So, the campaigning is getting closer to voting and the rivals are picking up steam, attacking each other with barbs and bellows, neither quarter given, nor quarter sought, which is how it should be, but it isn’t. Rahul Gandhi, being the challenger, is colourful in his depiction of Modi, which often lands him in trouble; using words such as “pickpocket” and “panauti” is Rahul Gandhi’s style while playing the “victim card” is the old man’s prerogative, so we’re told.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi quite naturally and effortlessly plays the victim card, with the ease that comes with practice. For example, he will be addressing a choc-a-bloc public rally and suddenly, right in the middle, he will break into, “Wo Mujhe Gaali Bhi Denge”, and everybody knows who the “Wo” is when he switches to “Shahzada”. Modi, it appears, is given the benefit of doubt and a clean chit because of his status.

Prime Minister Modi’s campaigning style rests on such ultra-special grants. Rahul Gandhi doesn’t enjoy such perks and, therefore, often breaks “rules”, giving Prime Minister Modi the chance to “hit out”. For instance, at the recent INDI-Alliance “maharally” in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, held to highlight AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, Rahul Gandhi said “India will burn if BJP wins” and Modi bristled.

“The Shahzada of Congress's 'shahi' family has said if the country chooses BJP for a third time, the country will be in flames. It shows their desperation…they are speaking of setting the country on fire." Modi’s campaign and speeches are shaped by Rahul Gandhi’s words and, to a lesser extent, by alleged Gandhi deeds; indeed, misdeeds – current, present or dug out of history’s dustbin.

The Prime Minister’s narrative writers are archeologists, with pick and axe, when Rahul Gandhi’s speeches, on the other hand, sound more like coaching, than spontaneous and off the cuff. For example, “India will burn if BJP wins a third term” appears to be inspired by Donald Trump’s analogy of “bloodbath if the Democrats win”. That said, Modi is the master of reverse osmosis. He picks on Rahul’s remarks and turns those utterances into questions, such as "Will you allow the country to be set on fire?"

Simple answer is “No”, but there you have it, the hero and the villain. Modi scores off such “no balls” lobbed at him by the sometimes clueless Rahul Gandhi. The problem for Rahul Gandhi is the “pappu image” built around him. Modi has an upper-hand. Modi can question Rahul Gandhi’s motives, Rahul’s language; Rahul’s commitment to democracy. Modi straightaway asks voters to “punish Rahul” for “saying such things”, leaving people to guess “what things”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign-style is marked by this wide margin of freedom of expression. Not Rahul Gandhi, that fellow doesn’t get grace marks for challenging the Prime Minister. Just like AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal doesn’t. The day Rahul Gandhi lands in the slammer, Kejriwal’s jail-woes will pale in comparison and Congress workers will have to give a new meaning to “behind the bars”.

Rahul Gandhi’s campaign style pitches him dangerously close to getting hauled to “behind the bars” because of the content of his addresses. The challenger has no other option but to attack, attack, attack, and attack...to drive home the point to the voter, which is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is often with his back to the wall, sagging at the ropes. But this is when Modi’s age and his experience come into play. So far, in more than five years, Modi has been successful in taking Rahul hits on the chin.

That is the Modi style of campaigning and his victim card still has credit to show. Every time Prime Minister Narendra Modi is targeted, he encashes the victim card. Does Rahul Gandhi care? The simple answer, “No”. Rahul Gandhi says what he wants to and he is not bothered by how BJP reacts. He is more clued to shaping people’s reactions, and perception management. Both Rahul and Modi are playing the same game, deceiving voters into “believing”. It is as old as democracy.

It works, too. In Rahul Gandhi’s case, in recent times, it worked in Karnataka, and in Telangana. But it did not work in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan where Narendra Modi’s campaign style of “I, Me, Myself” carried the day. So much so, Narendra Modi is so impressed he is applying the same template to his 2024 Lok Sabha election campaigning style, which is an extension of “Mai Akela Sab Pe Bhaari”, now burnished with “Abki baar, 400 paar” on “June Chaar”.

The simple fact is, the Prime Minister has the advantage of playing on the front foot, when Rahul Gandhi has to be on the “backfoot” with a moribund campaigning style, limited to calls for “protecting the Constitution and save democracy”, and hoping that the message finds the bullseye, and percolates down to the last voter in the queue.

Rahul Gandhi has been crying “save democracy” at scores of 'Loktantra Bachao' rallies, the latest held under the INDIA bloc umbrella. His analogy linking a Modi win to “match-fixing” could even mean that the Congress has conceded victory. But the warning that, given a third term, Modi would alter the Constitution is a dog-whistle to those who are concerned about where India is going. Rahul Gandhi’s 2024 election campaign-style cannot be divorced from the realities on the ground.

Modi’s campaigning style is more about personal attacks couched in politically-correct language. The most Modi stoops to is “Shahzade” whereas Rahul Gandhi goes with “pickpocket” and “panauti”. Modi also uses his army of Rahul-baiters to keep sniping at the Congress leader’s heels. Union minister Smriti Irani, for instance, whose entire political life appears to be dedicated to “attacking” Rahul Gandhi on Modi’s behalf, and for Modi’s political benefit. (IPA Service)