Why has the Congress party failed?

Vinod C Dixit

(dixitpatrakar@yahoo.in)

Founded in 1885, the Congress led the country to freedom from British colonial rule. It has dominated India's post-Independence politics, ruling the country for 54 of the past 70 years, either on its own or as the leader of coalition governments. In the process, the party has failed to reform its organization or tackle issues related to its functioning and leadership that may have contributed to its decline and fall. In 1993, when Ajit Singh with his followers joined the party, it became a majority government under PV Narasimha Rao. This single dominant party system has done some good to the country. It was due to this that political stability came to the country, which otherwise the nation would have lost. But at the same time, the Congressmen took it for granted that India was for them to govern and this created many problems as well.

The party has also not thought it fit to groom state-level leaders with a popular base who can galvanize the state units of the party. Congress leaders, starting with the Gandhis, have failed to reconnect with the people. They have simply attacked PM Modi. Congress is surely losing its power base across the country, and for good reason. The results in different states are a lesson for the Congress party; it is on a steady decline in the country's political arena. The decline and fall of the Congress is an arresting story written time and again; but this time the party is at the nadir of its influence in national politics.The Congress's failure to project a suitable chief ministerial candidate in most of the elections must have harmed its prospects. The results are a lesson for the Congress party. The Congress' revival pivots on its ability to address its crisis of credibility, encouraging state leaders and functioning as a vigorous Opposition in Parliament. Rahul Gandhi, the scion of Congress, is an empty vessel as he has shown no understanding of any issues and depends on his coattail hangers to provide sound bites to media. The discarded and shamed politicians are being re-inducted into the party and given important positions of authority. Rahul has yet to prove his capacity as a vote-catcher for the party. He hasn't been able to boost the sagging spirits of the Congress rank and file.

60 years of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has been a curse for Mother India. They have spread nepotism, apathy and corruption across India. In the last 70 years, those who have misused the laws and Constitution have mired the country in corruption. Modi has rightly said that the Congress always tried to promote the contribution of one family — a reference to the Gandhis — and neglected contributions of Veer Savarkar, even Bhagat Singh. It is not as if there are not a lot of people who gave their lives during the Independence struggle. On 'Congress-mukt Bharat' BJP is making a deeper dent. India is completely changed in last 15 years and the new generation wants development and an aggressive bold-minded leader like Modi. It is clear that Rahul Gandhi's hurdles in the Congress are his inexperience and his inaccessibility. His image is also an aloof one. He doesn't feel he has to have his own mouthpiece website and mobile application to make himself more accessible to people.Rahul Gandhi has different plans in mind, but they do not work. Why? He may seem extremely well-intentioned, but does that translate to an effectual administrator and visionary leader? History and statistics show that a 'dying party' can resurrect itself. The Congress party has been suffering from a leadership crisis, with Rahul Gandhi widely seen as a failure, indifferent and incompetent. Launching Priyanka is the party's last and desperate gamble. Priyanka is the most meritorious in her generation of Gandhis. It was assumed that Priyanka's arrival will eclipse Rahul Gandhi, and possibly give the Congress party an image makeover, but she also failed. In politics, ultimately public perception matters. We think Sonia and Rahul should focus only on the welfare of people in Congress-controlled states and stop focusing on Modi.