Act and Introspect

Why is the Congress reluctant to change its formation in terms of organizational network, reform the decades old processes related to functioning of its highest bodies-Congress Working Committee, AICC and its customary session? Are the Congress leaders fearful of the change or intense pressure from some invisible forces has forced them to play safe and maintain status quo? Or, they simply lack the ideas.

These questions confronting the current Congress dispensation (read Sonia Gandhi- Mallikarjun Kharge-Rahul Gandhi, powerful troika) are not new. But a refresh button pressed by the recently held non-happening Ahmedabad AICC session, has once again made these questions relevant.

The session which left all, those participating or those not, (the party leaders and rank and file, and the public) unenthused as it failed to throw an alternative vision to fight the might of Narendra Modi-led well-oiled ruling network. And also, to ignite the mind of the Congresspersons, to make them ready for future political battles - elections or otherwise. More importantly catch the imagination of the people.

The abysmal affair that the AICC session turned out to be with no clear-cut direction emerging out of it as to how the Grand Old Party proposes to fight the politico-ideological battle on way to strengthening its place as the premier opposition party and be the unchallenged leader of the fledgling opposition combine - I.N.D.I.A on its course to challenge the BJP in 2029 Lok Sabha elections. In fact, the session has ended up adding to the confusion and demoralization than emanating any ray of hope.

The Ahmedabad AICC session was not different from the preceding ones held in the last few decades. At a time when the Congress is facing the most tough battle of its survival with an all-round onslaught launched by the ruling dispensation-both at the political and government levels, and communal and polarizing politics at its zenith- the session was expected to be a path-breaking one if not revolutionizing the party’s thinking or strategy. But nothing of the sort happened.

Where does the Congress particularly Mr Rahul Gandhi, whose remarkable Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra had rekindled a fresh hope, go from here?

Definitely, the Ahmedabad AICC session is a valuable opportunity lost to unveil the blue-print of what the party intends to do in the coming times. Most of the contentious but significant issues, such as strengthening and overhauling the organizational set-up, changing the style of working, purging the party of non-performers and the deadwood, and those conniving with the arch-political rival (read BJP), went missing from the discourse. Those who had their eyes and ears fixed on the session and waited with baited breath for a new look agenda to unfold, were despaired to be content with passing references (on these issues) made by Mr Kharge and Mr Gandhi in their speeches.

The scores of leaders and the delegates who travelled long distances to be in attendance, left without carrying a message to enthuse the workers back home, as there was none. Under the circumstances getting back to the grassroots and convince the people to be back in the Congress-fold remains a tall order.

Although Mr Kharge as the Congress president has done a commendable work despite age-related and physical constraints, and has let no opportunity without fighting back on crucial issues, the challenge is more daunting for Mr Gandhi. It remains a fact that Mr Kharge is acting only as a guardian figure but every policy decision in the party has Mr Gandhi’s stamp affixed on it. The party president has left no one in doubt about his position and candidly admitted from time to time that Mr Gandhi was the real driving force. And rightly too as the Congress’s future lies with him.

A very tricky situation seems to have arisen in the party, particularly after the lackluster AICC session and with the next set of assembly elections approaching fast. Normally the onset of any election has been used as a standard excuse by the Congress strategist to ward-off or postpone decisions on vital issues to the great disadvantage of the party, which is there for everyone to see at the AICC and the state/UT levels where confusion prevails supreme, the ploy would not work anymore. The clock is ticking fast and the indecisiveness is getting entrenched deeper; a situation that demands a fast check.

Since Mr Gandhi has led the battle from the front, notwithstanding the personalized campaign against him to tarnish his image, with two pan-India yatras having a dramatic effect both for the party and at the personal level, unfortunately, the spirit has not been carried forward. A weak organization dotted by leaders with vested interests and at times working at cross-purposes to BJP’s advantage, has been the Congress’s bane.

With this backdrop, it has become imperative that Mr Gandhi must press the alarm-bell. The image of indecisiveness has to be shed and the mask of status quoist to be blown as fast as possible.

He has the guts and the capacity to take on Mr Modi and his might which he has shown many times. This, despite being constantly targeted by the BJP’s propaganda machinery for over a decade now, with truth becoming the biggest casualty.

One disturbing factor is that he has been a lone traveler all this while as he is surrounded by mostly those weak-kneed, lacking courage and only wishing to enjoy fruits of Mr Gandhi’s benevolence by remaining on his right side. He direly needs to break this model and ensure everyone around him is ready to hit the ground rather remaining confined to the AICC headquarters.

The charity must begin at the AICC with a thorough change in its work culture. In most of the cases it has become a parking place for those elevated as its office-bearers in charge of key tasks. A big problem is that they tend to lose touch with the middle-lower rung leaders and workers, and prefer to remain ensconced in the air-conditioned chambers of the AICC.

Accordingly, the entire gamut of organizing AICC sessions must also drastically change. It should not be merely a customary fulfillment of Election Commission requirement but an exercise that should be deeply interactive and all encompassing. The status quoist mindset has to be broken.