Congress skips a reset, opts for housekeeping instead
The oldest political party in the country, Congress spent three days at its version of “The Last Chance Saloon” in Udaipur.
The brainstorming session or “Chintan Shivirdeliberated on a full restart of the party, which stands exhausted from its debilitating leadership crisis, the consequence of which has been losing one state after another. Exceptions: Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
Acting Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her two children who lead the party Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi needed to establish that they are still in the business of politics and are capable of tough leadership. The talk shop comes after Rahul Gandhi was filmed while vacationing in Nepal, lighting up the BJP’s inbox. The video was pushed by the BJP as proof that while his party is self-destructing, Rahul Gandhi is taking a vacation; conclusion: he is not a serious politician.
The Congress organized the three-day strategic camp in Udaipur after a series of electoral defeats and dissent within the party in recent years.
There is still no clarity among former Congress loyalists or its dissidents (“G 23”) as to whether or when Rahul Gandhi will return as party chairman. Limbo on this issue sets the tone for marching on, on or around all other important issues. So, for example, the party has adopted the one family, one ticket rule – except it will not apply if a person has served more than five years, in which case they will also be entitled to a ticket with a direct relative. Convenient for Gandhis. And the dynasties that are part of Congressional history or baggage, whatever your point of view.
The party said several important decisions were made. Among them “50 Under 50” – half of all positions and committees will be reserved for those under 50. An attempt by Benjamin Button of the Grand Ever Older Party of India. One person, one position will also be applied.
Congress on Sunday adopted a “Nav Sankalp” – a roadmap for far-reaching reforms in the party’s organization to prepare it for the fight in the upcoming assembly round and Lok Sabha polls.
Some of the suggestions that were considered came from strategist Prashant Kishor while he was auditioning for a role in Congress, a move that came to the fore. Prashant Kishor had suggested demolishing the building, the party’s response is effectively “Thank you, we’ll just whitewash the facade”.
Congress appears to have toyed with just enough change to induce moderate enthusiasm among executives, but well outside the zone of any real reset. Even though its many flaws and miscalculations have cost it states like Punjab and Goa.
The two biggest questions – how to win elections again (the only thing that matters in a democracy) and how to tackle the BJP’s majority Hindutva agenda have been dodged. Still. Until leaders can come up with a convincing answer to these two big questions, the Udaipur declaration will seem like an uninspired household.
The party said it would hit the road with a series of padayatras from August 15 which will draw attention to unemployment. Three new departments, including a public information department (to gauge public mood using data), a national congressional worker training institute, and an election management department will be created. This in a party already loaded with committees where Sonia Gandhi often puts questions to panels without any results – death by committee, in fact.
Rahul Gandhi’s return was the giant elephant in the Udaipur tent. And RG signaled that he was in. Separately, the Prime Minister has already said that two terms is not enough for him. General elections are now scheduled in two years. So if Congress is gearing up for an ‘RG vs Modi’ campaign again, history is not on its side. Rahul Gandhi in his speech at the conclave said that he has dedicated his life to fighting RSS and BJP ideology and is not afraid as he “did not take a single paisa from Bharat Mata”. But the fortune of Congress will lie in shrewd political alliances to confront the BJP. But Rahul Gandhi seems to have largely ignored this, alleging that they don’t have the ideology to take on the BJP.
Congress has adopted the “one family, one ticket” formula with the additional requirement that another family member seeking to run for office must have worked in the party for at least five years.
The statement will trigger senior opposition leaders who have national ambitions: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, NCP leader Sharad Pawar Supremo and Telangana KCR Chief Minister who do not sit well with Rahul Gandhi. Some regional parties are already refusing to ally themselves with the Congress, finding it electorally toxic. Rahul Gandhi himself said that BSP leader Mayawati refused to answer his calls ahead of the UP elections.
It’s not just other parties that Rahul Gandhi will have to learn to manage better than he has in the past. In Congress, he must cut through the unease around the role of Sachin Pilot who ensured he would replace Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan’s chief minister before the election just a year ago. Sachin Pilot is eager and ready to take off if promises are not kept.
(Swati Chaturvedi is an author and journalist who has worked with The Indian Express, The Statesman and The Hindustan Times.)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author.