Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, renowned for his strategic brilliance on the chessboard and sharp wit in political commentary, made a subtle dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Kasparov’s post was in response to one by Bollywood actor Ranveer Shorey on X, in which the latter shared a video clip from Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Meghalaya with a caption that read, “Nice one, @Kasparov63, but can you handle this move?.”
To this, Kasparov replied, “I very much hope my little joke does not pass for advocacy or expertise in Indian politics! But as an ‘all-seeing monster with 1000 eyes’, as I was once described, I cannot fail to see a politician dabbling in my beloved game!”
Earlier, Kasparov, responding to an X user, who posted a ‘random thought’ about Vishwanathan Anand and Garry Kasparov retiring early and not facing the “greatest chess genius of our times”, wrote, “Tradition dictates that you should first win from Raebareli before challenging for the top!”, followed with a laughter emoji.
This exchange followed senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh calling Rahul “an experienced player of politics and chess” following his nomination from Raebareli.
In an apparent veiled reference to Rahul’s decision to contest Raebareli after Wayanad in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Kasparov said winning in politics requires mastery and grasp of the vocation just as one needs to win in the game of chess.
Earlier, Ramesh defended Rahul’s nomination from the traditional Congress stronghold, stressing the strategic considerations behind the move.
“Remember, he is an experienced player of politics and chess,” Ramesh said.
His decision to contest Raebareli, a seat previously held by his mother Sonia Gandhi, drew derisive responses from the BJP, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of fleeing Wayanad just as he did in Amethi after losing to Union Minister Smriti Irin 2019.
In her first response to Rahul’s candidature from Raebareli, Irani accused the Congress of conceding defeat in Amethi even before a single vote is cast for the seat.
Rahul Gandhi faces Congress defector Dinesh Pratap Singh in Raebareli, in what will be one of the more closely watched contests in the ongoing general elections.
