Several State-level leaders have left the party and many of those who remain feel alienated by heir apparent Rahul Gandhi
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, after addressing a ‘victory rally’ on the withdrawal of the land acquisition Bill, has gone abroad again. Eyebrows have been raised at this sudden foreign trip, when the party is facing a crucial election in Bihar.
Although the Congress is a minor partner in the Bihar Assembly election, there is a danger of the party drawing a blank, which will further demoralise party workers. However, a good showing in the Bihar poll will send a message to the other States, where the Congress is facing factionalism and indiscipline. The party leadership has to address this crisis on an urgent basis, or else things will further deteriorate.
For instance, the recent decision of senior Congress leader Himanta Biswa Sarma to quit the party and join the BJP should be taken seriously. Disgruntled leaders leaving the party has become a continuing process for the Congress. Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is already threatening to launch his own outfit.
What should be worrying for the Congress leadership is that most of the leaders who have quit the party have been Pradesh Congress Committee presidents or vice presidents at one time or the other. These include GK Vasan, C Gnanasekharan, Giridhar Gomango, D Srinivas, Abdul Ghani Vakil and Chaudhary Birender Singh. The party should first introspect as to why so many its leaders are leaving. The reason is a systematic emasculation of State leaders.
First, there is a leadership crisis within the party as the Nehru-Gandhi magic is no longer working. Second, the Congress is no longer a party of the freedom struggle, as it has acquired the baggage of opportunists.
Third, the party has lost its core voters and is unable to attract the youth. The fact that the BJP has overtaken the Congress in membership speaks volumes. Fourth, there is a lack of second-rung leaders. Fifth, the Congress faces a huge structural dilemma on several fronts which includes organisational decline, and ideological stagnation.
There was a time when the Congress was a democratic party with an effective political machine. From 1970s onwards, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made systematic efforts to change the party into a centralised and family-centred organisation. No attention has been paid to the reorganisation and regeneration of the grand old party since then.
Also, nothing has been done to get back the loss suffered in the States where the Congress was once dominant. Between 2004 and 2014, the Congress not only won two national elections but also won 21 Assembly elections. But there is no evidence whatsoever that the party used its stints in power to energise the organisation. Instead, for the last 10 years, it promoted rootless leaders who have not been able to stand up to the job.
If the Congress diminishes itself further, there will be a vaccum. There is no doubt that the revival of the party hinges on its ability to address the crisis of credibility, establish State leaders, function as a vigorous Opposition in Parliament and outside too. Also, much depends on how long the Modi effect lasts.
If and when Mr Gandhi is anointed as party chief, he will inherit a weak and ageing party apparatus. It will be a tough task for him to build a new, young team which may take a decade or so. Mr Gandhi has so far failed to be the leader, which the Congress wanted him to be. He has not acquired Indira Gandhi’s understanding, Rajiv Gandhi’s modern ideas or Sonia Gandhi’s hard work.
On the contrary, he is alienating old timers by importing a number of outsiders and giving them positions. Many satraps are also miffed with Mr Gandhi for facilitating the appointment of young PCC chiefs in their respective States. The old guard fears that it will lose its clout in a post-Sonia Congress dispensation.
The only positive thing for Mr Gandhi is his age and clean image. He needs to bring back organisational depth and evolve a political programme that can bring back former leaders.