Could Congress Be Saved From Self Destruction?
Prof N.K. Singh
Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India
Indian National Congress, the grand national party born with the idealism of achieving independence for India, is in serious doldrums. It might survive or it could vanish from the Indian landscape due to its own misjudgement and absurd decision making. It has great opportunity to emerge as major opposition but is uncertain if it will use it. A party that dominated Indian political scenario till almost 1989 is in dire suicidal mode. In spite of ruling the country till 2014 with intermittent breaks it failed to be a principal opposition in 2014-19 and failed to get sufficient number of 10% seats to make a Leader of Opposition.
Biggest crises is brewing now with four out of five states which went to poll, showing a defeat writ large in spite of its lofty attitude. The party is suffering from lack of direction and strategy crafting. Uttar Pradesh was a disaster for the party as it not got reduced number of seats, seven, than last election and worse, it lost its family Burroughs of Amethi and Raebareli. It might run desperately to find safe seats in 2019 election for its high command, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Big question is being evaded by the party that who is responsible for it?
Punjab was success because of Capt. Amarinder Singh and that has a lesson. UP strategy was flawed from the very beginning although the duo Aklesh-Rahul running a campaign in filmy style amused the public. Yet it looked foolish to embrace each other without any substantial agenda. The Congress should not have joined the SP as no one was likely to gain. But Rahul seemed desperate to get any support to break series of defeats that this last straw too ruined it. Running from consultants to any unprincipled alliances was not going to pay but no one in the party raised a voice to discourage him. In the process, both the parties lost. There are five major lapses in party working which need urgent correction but no one seems to be bothered about it.
First leadership vision and strategy are lacking. Having enough talent, the party must groom them instead of sticking to the rotten old heads who have failed to deliver. What happened in North East is simply inability to spot new talent available within the party and make use of it rather than being indifferent. The party leadership due to inaccessibility for even senior leaders, has been reduced to a coterie rule. The party failed to see the mood of public which does not appreciate negative politics of wasting sessions without productive work. But blindly revenge became the strategy whereas the party should have built positive approach with long term aim. Even latest in Delhi Municipal elections complaints are voiced by senior leaders that they are not heard or given proper consideration. High command culture must be replaced with professional culture. Leadership must be responsive.
Second flaw in working is lack of decision making or slow decision making. Typical case is Goa where total confusion in coming to terms with alliance was and in spite of being largest party they failed to form the government. Look at the efficiency of BJP who within two day s made a Central Minister resign and take over in Goa after forming alliance. They proved their majority later also. Now Rahul or Moily calling it theft is poor response to the drubbing they got and their own failure to decide next step. Although it is centralised command yet the decision making is slow and faulty.
Third draw back today is great dearth of leaders with communication skills. Given a lead by Rahul everyone started running down modi or using language which they thought is funny enough to insult him. Modi too used objectionable word in communication but he was skilful enough to give this some kind of credence. Strangely Congress leaders like Digvijay Singh, Kapil Sibal, Surjewala and Poonawala etc tried to hit Modi below the belt but it did not have any impact on the public mind as these speakers unlike modi, had lost credibility in the past or during campaign. Only one person who mattered for credibility for public was
Shashi Throor, who was widely acclaimed and did not indulge in vituperative attacks .He could have been acceptable voice. But he did not have any central role to play or even his talent and expertise was not used by party. Talent is not respected by party which was my own experience too as new ideas and competence is not in demand rather politically amiable people and sycophants dominated the scenario. (to be continued)
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘Divya Himachal TV’. Also, Download our Android App
