By all accounts the Congress, traditionally fed on lackeys and doormats, is refusing to learn lessons from its shattering electoral rout.
Even after being reduced to a hopeless situation, it not only continues to repose faith in Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi’s unimaginative leadership but is intent on quelling voices of dissent.
In the Congress culture, there are no democratic processes. It is institutionalized by the “First Family” and its trusted coterie. So it is with a sense of guilt that the nation must appreciate what Mahatma Gandhi had said after India attained independence – The Congress has served its purpose as a campaign. It should be dissolved now that the mission has been accomplished.
There is a world of difference between Indira and Sonia’s leadership. The former was a deft political player who effectively marginalized all opposition within and outside the party and it was only when she carried her autocratic ways into the dark hour of the Emergency that people gave her the boot. However, she was wily enough to realize her sins of commissions and omissions and bounced back thanks also to the then ruling Janata government thrown into a disarray because of its internal bickering. Sonia does not come from the same hardboiled school. Rahul has inherited the same political naïveté.
Little wonder then that rumblings are now being heard in the party that has thrived on sycophancy and the purported charisma of one family. Their labored response to the anger simmering in the party shows both Sonia and Rahul are ill-equipped to come out with any quick-fixes.
Regulation speak is another of Congress hallmarks, although other political parties too are no exception. It wasn’t surprising therefore that its parliamentary party (CPP) smugly accepted – in as much words – that the Gandhis remain its only rudders and those who question their authority should be shown their place.
But this time round, the party will not find it easy to brush dissent under the carpet. The disgruntlement is so deep-seated and widespread that even the fear of expulsion has not stopped the partymen from being vocal. Not that the sailing in the Congress used to be smooth before but the partymen not reconciled to be out of power, stuck around. Obviously, the notion that when Congress wins it is Gandhi charisma and when it loses it is collective failure, is taking a beating.
A day after the Congress suspended senior party leader from Kerala, T H Mustafa for calling Rahul a “joker,” Rajasthan leader Bhanwar Lal Sharma trained his guns on the Gandhis. Sharma did which no other Congressmen dared to say before. He said time had come for the party to think beyond Rahul and Priyanka Vadra. He has since been suspended.
Discontent is palpable among the party cadres for what appears to be Sonia’s indiscretion in abdicating her authority to son Rahul who in turn delegated his authority to non-players – a case of remedy being worse than the disease.
There also appear to be strong reservations about Sonia’s credentials as a proactive leader. The fact that she ruled the country by proxy through an educated puppet hasn’t gone down well with party ranks who are clueless about how they should brace up to this unprecedented debacle.
One hopes earnestly that this clear division in the Congress over Sonia and Rahul’s future roles is a harbinger for more transparency. The semblance of conscience that Sonia and Rahul showed after the party’s loss should be effectively mobilized if they at all want to take the Modi challenge head on. The trouble is both find themselves on the crossroads. The party is still to recover from the shock. In fact, there is a deep-seated fear with the party down to its lowest tally, it will not be in any position to take advantage of the anti-incumbency against the Modi Government when it does set in.
The question is will the party heed to the wake up call.
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