Rahul's TN visit: Cong shares AI video calling him 'Thalaiva'; signals rebranding push

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu portion of the Congress connected Tuesday shared an AI-generated video of Rahul Gandhi, captioned “Welcome Thalaiva (leader),” for his sojourn to the poll-bound state.The implicit two-minute clip features Gandhi walking down a way with his chopper successful the background, greeted by crowds connected some sides, portion a Tamil opus and an English rap way play.

It besides shows him interacting with assorted sections of society.

The Congress’s usage of the rubric “Thalaiva” for its premier person appears abrupt, fixed that the expansive aged enactment has projected him arsenic “Jannayak” (mass leader) for implicit 3 years. Could this, therefore, awesome an effort by the Congress to rebrand its erstwhile nationalist president?The 'Jannayak' phaseAround September 2022, the Congress began projecting Gandhi arsenic “Jannayak” arsenic helium embarked connected his pan-India

Bharat Jodo Yatra

, which brought him into the nationalist spotlight. The march, spanning 12 states, began successful Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, and concluded successful Jammu and Kashmir successful January 2023.In January 2024, helium led the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra — a smaller but akin march from Manipur to Mumbai — which concluded successful March, conscionable up of the Lok Sabha polls.Both yatras played a important relation successful Gandhi shedding the “Pappu” (immature) label, arsenic helium engaged extensively with communal radical during the marches.The comparative occurrence of the Congress and its allies successful the Lok Sabha elections was wide attributed to the 2 yatras.

Gandhi was subsequently elevated arsenic person of absorption successful the Lok Sabha, further reinforcing his “Jannayak” credentials.But the momentum soon fizzled out.Poll defeats and 'vote chori': Rahul Gandhi station Lok Sabha electionsAlthough buoyed by its Lok Sabha performance, the Congress suffered unexpected setbacks successful consequent assembly elections. It mislaid successful Haryana, contempt the BJP facing a decennary of anti-incumbency, and portion its confederation with the National Conference won successful Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress itself enactment up a anemic showing.

A akin signifier played retired successful Jharkhand, portion successful Maharashtra, the BJP-led Mahayuti swept speech the MVA, of which the Congress is simply a constituent.In February 2025, the enactment failed to unfastened its relationship successful Delhi for the 3rd consecutive assembly election. The twelvemonth ended with different drubbing successful Bihar, wherever Gandhi was erstwhile again projected arsenic “Jannayak.”In the meantime, helium clashed with the Election Commission, accusing the canvass assemblage of conspiring with the BJP to favour it successful the assembly elections.'Thalaiva': Congress' effort to rebrand Rahul pursuing post-Lok Sabha setbacks?Now, arsenic the state heads into its adjacent acceptable of assembly elections successful 4 states, including Tamil Nadu, and the Union territory of Puducherry, the Congress has begun calling Gandhi “Thalaiva.” Although the party’s Tamil Nadu portion whitethorn person utilized the rubric arsenic the Raebareli MP was visiting the state, this could besides beryllium an effort to determination distant from the “Jannayak” image, which has brought the enactment much setbacks than successes.Gandhi besides has different transportation with Tamil Nadu: his father, erstwhile Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated present successful 1991 by Sri Lanka’s LTTE rebels.Projecting him arsenic a person could besides beryllium a subtle connection to its ally, the MK Stalin-led DMK. In caller days, the Congress has reportedly been courting Tamil superstar Vijay’s fledgling outfit, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for an confederation successful the Tamil Nadu assembly polls.Whether the rebranding is deliberate oregon not, lone clip volition tell. As for whether it volition resonate with voters, the reply whitethorn look successful the not-so-distant future.