Sensing that Congress is demonstrating no indication of serious introspection over defeat, its partners are leaving the UPA ship
The UPA partners are leaving the sinking ship and looking for better opportunities. The latest to do so is the National Conference. The Congress remains isolated, with barely a handful of allies and friends like the Muslim league, the RJD and the NCP.
The Congress is having trouble both from within and outside. There is a near rebellion within the party demanding change of leadership in Maharashtra, Assam and Haryana. Maharashtra and Haryana will go to the polls in a few months. After the lok Sabha poll debacle, dissidence is growing in every State. The Congress high command’s decision to retain the three Chief Ministers has created further crisis.
In Maharashtra, Mr Narayan Rane, who was aspiring to become the Chief Minister, has resigned, creating a flutter. This was the second time he had done so after the disastrous lok Sabha result. He now claims that he had been assured of the top post when he resigned from the Shiv Sena and joined the Congress in 2005. The party has no strong leader and incumbent Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is unable to take everybody along. The Congress-NCP combine has been in power in the State for the past 15 years and it will be difficult for it to return to power under the circumstances.
In Assam, rebel Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has been leading the revolt against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, has quit, declaring that he will not join the ministry as long Mr Gogoi is the Chief Minister. Mr Sarma claims to have the support of about 50 MlAs. On the other hand, about 13 Ministers have written to the party chief to start disciplinary action against Mr Sarma and other dissidents. The high command had been dilly-dallying for long about the change of leadership and ultimately decided against it.
In Haryana, senior Congress leader Birender Singh is sharpening his attack against Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Mr Singh has declared that he will not contest under the leadership of Mr Hooda. But, the high command is backing Mr Hooda.
If the Congress is facing internal troubles, the problem from outside, particularly from the allies, is no less. Already the UPA had shrunk after the DMK, the Trinamool Congress and other key allies had left the coalition. The NCP has been demanding a 50:50 share in the Assembly poll in Maharashtra. Its chief Sharad Pawar has been putting pressure on the Congress to replace Mr Chavan with Mr Sushilkumar Shinde.
The NCP is sending signals that it does not mind going it alone, although it is speculated that after the poll the two may severe connections and the NCP may move towards the BJP. The recent meeting of Mr Pawar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has triggered speculations to this effect. Moreover, the NCP has now set a deadline to the Congress to decide on the road ahead.
The latest blow to the Congress is the parting of ways with the National Conference in Jammu & Kashmir. This was expected for some time, and the alliance had continued because of the personal chemistry between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress has to introspect seriously over the present state of affairs. The most important thing for the Congress is not only to keep the flock together but also look for new allies, but nobody is ready to go with the setting sun. Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had put together the grand alliance, but it is crumbling fast. With an ailing Ms Gandhi and an indifferent Mr Gandhi, the allies are not inspired. Even two months after the humiliating defeat, there are no indications of corrective measures from within the party.
The real problem appears to be that Mr Gandhi has not learnt any lesson from the defeat and the rootless wonders continue to hold important positions. The party should discuss the defeat in the AICC and the Congress Working Committee and find ways to correct the mistakes. The right kind of people should be chosen to hold positions.
The Congress has to re-invent itself to suit the new situation. For now, the party does not send any signal about revival. Continuing in the same manner will only ensure the disappearance of the party altogether in the course of time.