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| Playtime with his terrier Piddie cost Rahul Gandhi dear, says Himanta Biswa Sarma (interview video below) |
May 20, 2016, NewsCrunch
Assam BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, has made a sensational disclosure on how casual Congress scion Rahul Gandhi has been in addressing party affairs.
He says that at a crucial meeting which eventually led to his joining BJP, Rahul Gandhi was more interested in playing with his dog than listening to him
There is a renewed focus on Rahul Gandhi's casual management style after the debacle in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Among other things, BJP rode to victory in Assam on the shoulders of local strongman, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had been Congress chief minister Tarun Gogoi's right-hand man for years.
After Gogoi started promoting his son, Himanta Biswa Sarma fell out with him and tried to take his fight to Rahul Gandhi.
He says it took 20 attempts to meet the Congress heir. In a media interaction, Himanta Biswa Sarma has shared details of how the long-awaited meeting with Rahul Gandhi unfolded.
He was told to complete his presentation in two minutes. Then a fight broke out with Gogoi and party general secretary in-charge of Assam C P Joshi, who were also in the meeting.
A little dog walked in and started eating biscuits from the plate meant for guests. Himanta Biswa Sarma says Rahul Gandhi started playing with dog instead of sorting out the fight.
That was when Himanta Biswa Sarma decided to quit Congress and join BJP which was wooing him.
Rahul Gandhi has a terrier named Piddi, which is known for dropping in at his meetings and charming his visitors. Piddi is also known to follow Rahul Gandhi around his Tughlaq Lane home in New Delhi.
But the playtime with Piddie was to cost Rahul Gandhi dear.
Two weeks later Himanta Biswa Sarma was entering BJP president Amit Shah's residence. Rahul Gandhi sent him a frantic SMS asking him to meet him immediately.
Himanta Biswa Sarma replied saying it was too late.