In Congress circles, Rahul Gandhi is reputed to be a keen footballer, shooter, kick-boxer and martial arts expert, but not known for deceptive googly deliveries.

At a recent interaction with Congress spokespersons and TV talking heads at the new party headquarters, Indira Bhawan, New Delhi, Rahul stunned the otherwise captive audience when he drew a cricket analogy to target the party’s in-house ‘sleeper cell’ and mischief-makers. It all began when Jairam Ramesh, head of AICC’s Department of Communication, spoke ahead of Rahul, leaning on cricketing terms that ranged from the ground to umpires and cheerleaders, to present a dismal picture of media that he insisted was completely aligned in favour of the ruling NDA and PM Narendra Modi. Jairam’s charge against mainstream media was that it was not offering a level playing field to the Congress, adding, “…stadium is theirs, pitch is theirs and even umpires are theirs…"

Throughout Jairam Ramesh’s speech, Rahul remained attentive with his characteristic smug look. When Ramesh invited Rahul to deliver his keynote speech, according to those present in the audience, the Leader of the Opposition picked up the theme that the chief of media and communication had emphasised. Talking about cricket, he turned to Jairam Ramesh to say that in an intense cricket match, there are instances of players getting run out, hit wicket and dropping catches as if with design and purpose.

For the past 48 hours, Rahul’s plain speaking has become a major talking point in party circles. Several prominent leaders and a battery of spokespersons have been wondering why Rahul bowled that googly, and at whom it was aimed.

It is an open secret in the Congress that a major reshuffle in the AICC is on the cards, where many heads of department, including those handling communication, are set to lose their jobs. In fact, one interpretation of Jairam’s despair, by stating that ‘stadium, pitch, umpires’ are all against the grand old party, is an admission of his inability to manage media or his competence to effectively handle the AICC Communication Department. In this context, both Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate are seen as........

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