Some events indicated Congress’ inclination towards caste-based politics, a departure from the practices of previous Prime Ministers and leaders in the party.
The bugle of Lok Sabha election has been blown and both the major political parties, Congress and BJP are now playing their cards to woo the voters and making strategies to turn the tide in their favour. But it’s quite strange that Congress doesn’t seem to be in its best form. Congress neither seems to be campaigning aggressively nor has it said anything in the manifesto which would send the message that the contest is on an equal footing.
Everything seems to be formal. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is somehow hoping the history of 2004 to be repeated.
He assumes that NDA will face the same fate as 2004 when ‘India Shining’ was the slogan, yet the confident NDA lost in elections. This time a slogan of 400 is being raised. So Rahul believes this time as well the result will be reverse of what is being expected. Congress thinks that caste based politics is an antidote to the religion based politics. Henceforth, NDA shall nowhere be close to majority. However, looking at the current situation and attitude of congress workers and leaders, this logic of Rahul Gandhi is beyond comprehension.
If the Congress party had chosen a different approach for their manifesto today, they could have sparked discussions on more contemporary issues. It’s puzzling why Congress continues to believe that elections can be won solely through reservation politics. Promising to conduct a caste census or abolish reservation limits seems outdated, reminiscent of the 1990s. What’s crucial to understand is that the focus on reservation politics has provided an opening for the BJP to advance its Hindutva agenda. Had the Mandal card not been played in the 1990s, the rise of Kamandal politics might not have been as rapid. Presently, the BJP is banking heavily on issues like Ayodhya, aiming to surpass the 400 mark in the elections. It remains to be seen how effective Congress’ emphasis on caste dynamics will be in this context.
Congress has not done anything which can be talked about as illustration of development and make the voters think. The absence of innovative proposals aimed at improving essential services is apparent within the party. Despite framing the upcoming election as a crucial defense of democracy and the constitution, this message has failed to produce favorable outcomes in the state elections held at the end of last year, despite being reiterated for the past year and a half.
Moving forward with the announcements made by Congress to appeal to farmers, the party has put forward enticing promises such as a legal guarantee on the minimum support price and a 50 percent reservation for women in jobs. While these proposals may seem appealing, they do not ensure victory, especially considering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts over the past decade to attract women voters.
During the manifesto release on Friday, the National President of the party, Mallikarjun Kharge, emphasized a crucial point. He stressed that unless the Congress guarantees reach every household, they hold no significance. Kharge urged Congress leaders and workers to take this mission seriously. However, this sentiment is echoed by many within the party.
The pertinent question now arises: Will Congress leaders and workers effectively execute this directive?
The primary challenge facing Congress is the weakening of its organizational structure. The state of affairs in various states is troubling, and the effectiveness of the central organization has diminished. The burden falls heavily on the Gandhi family, who often bear the brunt of the party’s struggles. Former President Sonia Gandhi, despite her health concerns, had to step forward when the party faced adversity. The weak organizational setup has led to absence of qualified leadership within the party. Congress’s entanglement in alliances has further complicated matters. These alliances are somehow creating an obstacle in the path of aggressive campaigning for upcoming elections. Instead of showing strength and competition as an opposition party the Congress finds itself stuck in the affairs of its coalition partners. The alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party is particularly peculiar, as they collaborate in Delhi but compete against each other in Punjab. Similar dynamics are observed in Kerala and West Bengal, adding to the confusion surrounding Congress’s direction in the current election.
In Bihar and Maharashtra, the alliance partners are showing congress its place leading to disillusionment among leaders, resulting in defections from the party. It would have been preferable if Congress had contested the elections with its own strength or under the sole leadership of the UPA alliance, as this could have altered the current scenario. Even senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has expressed doubts about the party’s strategy, pointing out a lack of hunger for victory within Congress ranks. Observing the demeanor of leaders, there appears to be a sense of trepidation towards the impending elections. In contrast, the BJP, starting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other prominent leaders, have conducted numerous rallies, presenting a stark contrast to the lackluster performance of Congress. Following a rally in Delhi on Friday, the Gandhi family took the lead in rallying for the party for the first time in Jaipur on Saturday.
In Bihar and Maharashtra, the constituent parties are giving status to the Congress. These circumstances have instigated leaders to leave the party. Had Congress entered the electoral arena with its own strength or solely under the UPA’s leadership, it would have potentially yielded a different outcome. Besides, it would have been more favorable for Congress. Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has voiced concerns about the party’s strategy, noting a lack of determination for victory within Congress ranks. Observing the demeanor of leaders, there appears to be a palpable apprehension about the elections. In contrast, BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent figures, has conducted numerous rallies, underscoring the stark contrast in enthusiasm between the two parties. Following a rally in Delhi on Friday, the Gandhi family took the helm of the party’s campaign for the first time with a rally in Jaipur on Saturday.
Due to these circumstances, leaders are leaving the party. It would have been better if the Congress had entered the electoral fray with strength on its own or by keeping only the UPA in the lead, the situation would have been different today. Even senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has raised questions about his party’s strategy. As stated, there appears to be a lack of fervor for victory within the Congress. The expressions of its leaders suggest a sense of apprehension towards the elections. In contrast, the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent figures, has energetically conducted numerous rallies.
In the aftermath of the Delhi rally on Friday, the Gandhi family assumed leadership for the party’s campaign with a rally in Jaipur on Saturday, marking their first prominent involvement.
Both events indicated Congress’ inclination towards caste-based politics, a departure from the practices of previous Prime Ministers and leaders in the party. While Indira Gandhi famously advocated for a society free from caste distinctions, Rahul Gandhi’s actions suggest otherwise. Despite numerous ongoing or proposed schemes in Congress-governed states, such as the revival of the old pension scheme in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, initiatives like purchasing cow dung, and providing affordable meals (e.g., in Rajasthan, meals priced at Rs 8 are available), as well as discussions about free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakh, leaders seem more preoccupied with criticizing Prime Minister Modi rather than presenting their own plans. This trend appears to benefit the BJP. Despite several opportunities to showcase schemes related to old-age pensions and healthcare, Congress seems to be missing out on these chances. Now the election result will only show whether the Congress can stand a chance to win or shall fall flat in the face of defeat.