Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Gandhis must realize that the reasons for the repeated failures to convert electoral contests into victories were not so much due to a strong rival, but essentially because the enemy was within and not outside. The fact-finding committees appointed after every debacle were just an eyewash since many of those who were entrusted with the task of ascertaining the reality, were themselves to blame for the mess.
The Congress high command has to go in for a complete overhaul and side line those whose performance has been below par and their political acumen on most matters is in doubt. The first realization has to be that those who were entrusted with the task of finding solutions were the problems themselves.
Indira Gandhi was a great admirer of Joan of Arc. She was inspired by her belief that “in truth there is no defeat except from within. Unless you are beaten there, you are bound to win”. The current Congress continues to have an organizational structure which is both unwieldy and unproductive. Most of the office bearers have no work and there is hardly anyone in the areas they come from, who recognizes them or their contributions. They are just dead wood.
Rahul Gandhi, who has had an image makeover and has been performing well in the Lok Sabha as the Leader of Opposition, should also remember that he too has had to overcome many obstacles thrown in his way by his party colleagues themselves. The term, “Pappu” was not coined by the BJP but by senior Congressmen, who felt threatened by his emergence more than a decade ago, and who in order to prevent another power centre, tried to discredit him from the very beginning. Many of these honourable partymen were in the inner coterie of the then Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi and enjoyed immense clout and influence.
The BJP came much later and there as well the saffron brigade was furnished inside information to show Rahul Gandhi in poor light on many occasions. Things have not changed even if the people have. There is also apprehension in party circles over the loyalty of some of these senior functionaries. Many workers see them as BJP moles going by their actions. These suspicions may be difficult to establish but they need to be properly addressed since the saffron brigade has the resources and the ability to infiltrate into the ranks of any political party.
The reason why Operation Lotus has been successful in many regions and has also resulted in the shifting of key leaders in the Congress to the BJP, is not a mere coincidence. It is a well thought through strategy of the BJP, which while consolidating its own position, likes to weaken its opposition as much as was possible.
It is another matter that the RSS is not happy with these political migrations which are at the cost of the BJP’s own loyal workers, who in the process find themselves marginalized with the leadership accommodating political tourists from other parties, particularly the Congress.
To begin with the Congress must have a smaller but efficient organizational set-up comprising upcoming leaders who can contribute in the future. The party has not been able to fight back and stop the BJP, primarily because it did not split after the 2014 elections. Historically, the Congress would get energized after a split following electoral defeats and this has not happened, resulting in old leaders continuing and new and younger functionaries not getting as many opportunities as they should have.
In 1978, following the second split of the Congress, Indira Gandhi appointed Buta Singh, who served as the only general secretary for some time before she roped in Abdul Rehman Antulay. Antulay was given charge of the states since Assembly polls were round the corner and both of them under the overall leadership of Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi, helped in bringing the party back to power.
The time has come for the party to look at some new and fresh faces who can both fight and deliver. In Haryana, had someone like Sachin Pilot been given the charge, many glitches could have been overcome. The party needs to have a full-time political secretary, whose understanding of the political situation is based on his experience in the organization. Any former Indian Youth Congress president can be considered for the job apart from some seasoned players.
Similarly, communications is a very important part of any political organization. Its head should be a political entity who reacts and responds to emerging situations in an appropriate manner, and simultaneously helps in setting the narrative. Somebody like Manish Tewari, who has been the chief of the NSUI and the Youth Congress apart from being the Information and Broadcasting Minister can be a probable candidate. He is very articulate and comfortable with the language apart from being politically savvy.
The problems that the party is facing is because Kharge as the chief does not assert himself as much as he should and allows many others, who take refuge under the umbrella of their proximity to the Gandhis to dictate terms. The Gandhis are an important and integral part of the hierarchy and they would be the last ones who would come in the way of efficient people being appointed to key positions.
The short point is that the Congress has to shed the extra baggage. Only tried and trusted advisers can help in resuscitating the party. Between us.