While Akhilesh, son of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, diffused natural warmth in the midst of people, Rahul, 42, has given the appearance of an aloof, reluctant leader despite his staged encounters with a farmer's widow or dalit families, say political observers.
DRIVEN BY MISSION
Rahul had to resurrect a 127-year-old party in one of its lost bastions.
Akhilesh, who studied engineering at Jayachamarajendra College in Mysore and Sydney University, took his party up many notches in what he calls the 'decency index'.
AKHILESH HAD HIS EAR TO THE GROUND
Rahul, on the other hand lists scuba diving, squash and cycling. For Akhilesh, cycling is what he does when he connects with people - the cycle is his party's symbol.
"I think Akhilesh is more organic while Rahul Gandhi isn't, and that makes a lot of difference," says social scientist Shiv Visvanathan. He feels that Rahul was born a VVIP and treated like a VVIP, unlike Akhilesh who had the freedom to stay ordinary. Besides, Akhilesh had a robust party organisation, and he had his ear to the ground thanks to a better understanding of UP's caste dimensions. Rahul, steering a moribund Congress in the state, had outside voices advising him. "It is a pity that Rahul wasn't allowed to be ordinary while Akhilesh flaunted the rhythm of an ordinary leader who could connect easily," adds Visvanathan.
Another Congress leader says Akhilesh could successfully "build confidence, false or otherwise" that law and order could be normal under SP rule. Clearly, Akhilesh could articulate an alternative vision for a party otherwise linked to several ills - from crime to lack of political sophistication.
Both as an orator and conversationalist, Akhilesh appeared friendly and witty while Rahul was seen as plastic.