New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) Former AAP leader and educator Avadh Ojha on Thursday said that though Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has evolved as a politician over time, he needs a ‘good guru’ and should build a strong ‘Navratna’ team around him.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Ojha said he was unsure about the purpose of LoP Gandhi’s foreign trip but acknowledged that he has evolved as a politician over time. However, he stressed that further growth would require mentorship and strategic support.

“I don’t know why he is going on a trip abroad, but he has evolved well as a politician. He needs two things. First, he needs a good guru who will help him develop a deeper political understanding. He definitely needs that, because until he develops political understanding, he will not be able to make his own decisions. I am not saying that he should study political science; he needs practical political understanding,” Ojha said.

He further added that LoP Gandhi should build a strong team around him, drawing parallels from historical governance models.

“Second, he needs something like the concept of ‘Navratna’, as seen during the times of Chandragupta Maurya and Akbar. If he builds such a team, only then will he become more successful in politics,” he told IANS.

Ojha also shared his views on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, describing him as a “strong-willed” leader with effective decision-making abilities. He welcomed Shah’s recent remarks about the decline of Maoism in the country and termed it a significant development.

“If this is true, then it is a monumental achievement. Maoism has long been a major problem for the country, and its end would be a matter of great relief,” he said.

When asked about comparisons between Amit Shah’s leadership style and that of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Ojha remarked, “He has a strong political approach and good decision-making ability. Sometimes, when I see him answering questions on television, I feel he is following the path of an Iron Man.”

Sharing his perspective on the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026, Ojha said that the BJP appears determined to mount a serious challenge and that there is a growing desire for change among the electorate.

“People say it is difficult to defeat Mamata Didi, but the BJP seems very determined this time. The party has also raised the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh. I think the BJP is in a strong mood to contest these elections,” he said.

He added that the possibility of a change in government cannot be ruled out. “People want change. Didi has been in power for a long time. Just as people in Uttar Pradesh talk about change, there is a similar sentiment in Bengal as well,” he noted.

Ojha, a well-known civil services exam trainer, had contested the last Delhi Assembly elections on an AAP ticket from Patparganj, a constituency previously represented by Manish Sisodia. Following his electoral defeat, he announced his retirement from politics and, in his farewell message, described AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as a “very great leader.”

–IANS

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