The Congress observed its 139th foundation day in Nagpur by organizing a mega rally, where former president Rahul Gandhi gave a call to the people to be prepared for a battle of ideologies. Significantly, the Congress function was organized in the city where the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are located, and the meeting was aimed at attacking the outfit.
This is where the Congress is faltering. When it speaks about the clash between ideologies, it must introspect and see whether its leaders have adhered to what the party had stood for. The decline and fall of the Congress has been because of its deviation from its basic doctrine, and the inability of its leaders to win the confidence of the general masses.
In 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi scored an impressive and convincing victory over its adversaries, a committee headed by senior leader A.K. Anthony was constituted to go into the reasons of this humiliating defeat. The inference drawn by him was identical to the perception that existed at that point of time. The Congress was viewed by the people as an outfit which had deviated from its secular credentials with a conspicuous tilt towards the minorities.
Yes, it can be argued that the Congress, unlike its main adversary at the Centre, always accommodated the minorities and weaker sections in its scheme of things, but under the presidentship of Sonia Gandhi, the impression that got created was that many of its actions were at the cost of the majority community. A reason for this could be that Sonia Gandhi relied heavily on her political secretary Ahmed Patel and many of her decisions were influenced by his thinking. However, Ahmed Patel, in all fairness, gave his advice depending on the situations that existed, and not because of any communal considerations.
Unfortunately, the Congress, since 2014, has not been able to correct this perception even though leaders like Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh tried unsuccessfully to reach out to the majority community in the recent Assembly polls. His efforts were likened to soft Hindutva and he is being targeted by many in the party for his approach, which, under the circumstances, was both practical and logical.
Where the Congress has failed is that despite Anthony giving his findings, the party leadership has done nothing to correct this perception regarding its anti-Hindu stance. The impression often gets strengthened by the powerful BJP propaganda machinery. It was not surprising that the Congress rout in 2014 was followed by another dismal performance in 2019 purely because it was unable to send the correct message regarding its commitment to ideology, which was inclusive and not tilted towards any community.
When Rahul Gandhi spoke at Nagpur, he also talked about the need to have caste census and the importance of the exercise. What he forgot was that the Congress had in the past never discriminated against anyone on the basis of caste or community and its latest stance on caste politics was also against its basic concepts.
In other words, Rahul must learn and not get influenced by those in his inner coterie, many of whom do not understand the Congress doctrine since they have come from elsewhere. The dilution of the ideology started when leaders from parties that had opposed the Congress were encouraged to join the outfit. This problem shall also arise within the BJP at some period of time since the saffron brigade is also encouraging this ideological migration.
The present set of Gandhis who are in the leadership role of the grand old party are not familiar with many of its past practices. This is where greater prominence should be given to veteran leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, who have grown up in the organization from the grassroots level, and thus know what is what. Kharge is left with hardly a choice to speak about ideology after Rahul has given out his mind on the issue, about which he needs to know more.
Rahul is well meaning so far as his intentions go but is simultaneously ignorant about the consequences of many of his actions. His Yatra from east to west would keep the party in news, as a run-up to the elections, but he must recognize his opponents and enemies.
Rahul and the rest of the leadership must understand that attacking the RSS was always going to be futile and their focus must be on the BJP, which is the political adversary in the electoral arena. The RSS is a cultural outfit with its own doctrine aimed at nationalism and keeping the country intact. It has in the past supported the Congress which was evident both in 1980 and 1984.
Rahul has to comprehend the difference between the RSS and the BJP, and accordingly he should formulate his strategy. He should adhere to the Congress ideology, which was inclusive, and stop insisting on caste census or politics. Similarly, he must stop attacking the Adanis by name given that his party would need help from all quarters, if it has to stand up against the BJP.
For the Congress to do well, its original vote base of Muslims, Dalits and Brahmins must return to its fold. There have been indications of the Muslims supporting the party and Dalits have also shown the inclination. The Brahmins will only return if this caste focus on OBC agenda stops. This is elementary politics, which needs to be understood. Between us.