What Ails Congress

Congress’ political imprint in the country shrunk to its lowest with a dismal showing in the elections to 5 states. The party appeared to be looking at a loss of national relevance, especially with the growth of regional challengers like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). A dominant force in the country’s politics for decades, the grand old party’s free fall continued as it lost Punjab to AAP and finished with just 2 seats out of 403 in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). The party also fared badly and lost in Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur.

After the drastic decline in its tally in general elections, it is now left in power only in Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh, and is a very small player in the coalition govts in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. There is a common refrain from many party veterans “ Change or it will be the endgame”. The party’s poor performance is bound to affect the image of Rahul Gandhi, as he and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were the only star campaigners seen in this round of assembly polls. The brother- sister duo was mainly responsible for the dramatic decisions in Punjab including the humiliating ouster of then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh a few months before the elections and the projection of Dalit leader Charanjit Singh Channi as the CM face that appears to have alienated Punjab’s politically dominant Jat Sikhs in favour of AAP.

You are aware that within the Congress party there is a group called G 23 leaders, who have vocally sought an organizational overhaul over the last 2 years, as there had been no concrete meetings of CWC, inner-party elections. After their debacle in the 2019 general elections, Rahul Gandhi, who was congress president at that time resigned, and Sonia Gandhi became interim president, the post which she is still holding.

Party leader Shashi Tharoor, who is part of the G23 group said, “It is clear that change is unavoidable. All of us believe in Indian National Congress, but the results of the recent assembly elections have hurt us very badly. It is time to reaffirm the idea of India that the Congress stood for the positive agenda it offers to the nation. And to reform our ornanisational leadership in a manner that will reignite those ideas and inspire people. One thing is clear- Change is unavoidable if we need to succeed.”

The strategy of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also being questioned including the fielding of controversial candidates in the UP, as the Congress posted the worst show ever despite a high-pitch campaign that she led. Apart from internal challenges, the defeat of Congress in these elections is also set to shake its position as the principal opposition party with AAP also controlling two states, and they are already staking a claim as the main challenger to BJP.

Some political analysts feel that “ The election results signal the endgame for the Congress as the natural party of governance. An alternative political narrative is emerging with AAP and TMC as its principal engines, with a ragtag Congress desperately pretending to be relevant, unless it undergoes a transformative change.”

In the last round of assembly elections also, the electoral fortunes of the Congress took a downturn, when it failed to make a mark in the assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, and managed a minor consolation as a partner in DMK led alliance in Tamil Nadu.

After repeated poor performances at the elections, the political experts feel that  Congress may face an existential crisis in the changing political landscape with the BJP emerging stronger with every election and an aspirational India opening to new options.

After all, these happening the Congress CWC meeting took place on 13^th March 2020, people were thinking some firework will take place, but nothing of that sorts happened. Leaving aside G 23 group leaders, others expressed full confidence in Sonia Gandhi’s leadership, and even some members demanded that Rahul Gandhi should come back as Party President to revive the party’s fortunes.

This type of thing is happening after every election fiasco, and Gandhi family leadership is never questioned, on the contrary, after every election defeat Gandhi family members announce that they are ready to step down, but the other leaders (Chamchas) request them not to step down, and continue with the party leadership.

The problem with the Gandhi family is- in the last decade starting from Sonia Gandhi, to Rahul Gandhi, to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, none of these leaders have succeeded in bringing the confidence back in voter’s mind, so that the voters give them their votes.

If things continue to remain the same in the Congress party, it is possible that BJP’s prophecy of  “Congress Mukt Bharat” becomes true in near future.

Friends, what is your opinion on this matter. Please give your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

14^th March 202