Gujarat results: Congress must reinvent itself

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Gujarat results: Congress must reinvent itself

Congress has not responded to the changing political environment favourably. Ever since the BJP rose to prominence and the country got more options than before, Congress forgot to define any strategy to meet the challenge posed by the BJP.

CJ: Avnish Kumar Sinha

Thu, Dec 27, 2007 12:11:06 IST

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GUJARAT ELECTIONS are over but the blame game continues not between the Congress and the BJP but within the Congress party itself. Digvijay Singh clearly put the blame on the local leadership in Gujarat for the debacle. The man in charge, Ahmed Patel, did whatever he thought would bear fruit. Congress’ star campaigners included PM Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. But why these leaders could not make any impact on the outcome of the elections, which only consolidated the BJP’s base in Gujarat?

By playing the communal card Congress played right into the hands of Modi. While Congress all the while blamed Modi for inciting Hindus against Muslims, Modi all the while insisted that he had killed a terrorist who was an agent of Pakistan. The investigation report belies what Modi said at the election rally but the Congress never explained convincingly at any rally how Modi had misused the administration to get rid of a petty criminal. Gujarat is the most polarized state of India and hence the Congress did the wrong thing by levelling allegations against a man who proclaims himself the protector of the Hindus in Gujarat. In the event there was little chance of the Congress winning over the Hindu votes. But why Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi failed to make any impact? The reason is the faulty poll campaign.

By declaring Lal Krishna Advani as its candidate for the Prime Ministers’ post, the BJP projected itself as the next power-holder at the centre. This would have fooled many innocent voters into believing that if an early poll is held, the BJP will form the government at the centre. Hence it would be in the interest of the state to side with the BJP.

From the point of view of the Muslims the Congress has not changed much since the days of the Babri Masjid demolition. By and large it is still perceived as agent provocateur and its every action is viewed with suspicion. On the contrary, the Hindus see every step of Congress as minority-appeasing.

Sonia Gandhi’s image has taken a beating since she started her political career. She is still perceived by many voters as Indira’s bahu, Rajiv Gandhi’s widow, the UPA chairperson and Congress Parliamentarian, in that order. When voters attend her rally, most of them want to see her against the backdrop of her earlier image. Hence the moment she leaves the stage, people forget what she actually wanted from her voters. Same is the case with Rahul Gandhi. Under these two high-profile leaders, the party has not been able to project the right image a la Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi. These two are yet to step into their shoes. That was also the reason for their loss in the UP elections. They need to reinvent themselves to help the party win in the regional elections.

Congress has not responded to the changing political environment favourably. Ever since the BJP rose to prominence and the country got more options than before, Congress failed to define any strategy to meet the challenge posed by BJP. It stuck to the Gandhi formula but forgot that if a voter gets a choice he will definitely test the un-tested. Over the years this party has become a party of day-dreamers. It never realised that issues have multiplied and racial and religious identities have come to the forefront not at the cost of other issues but by being bracketed with developmental issues.

While Congress was busy focusing on the Godhra riots, BJP exploited the Akshardham incident to justify its tough posture and policy of intolerance towards a particular section. The issue of terrorism was a blessing in disguise for the BJP. Not only it polarized Gujarat or India but the world started talking in terms of a clash of civilizations. Congress has still not taken a view on the issue. Afzal’s capital punishment is pending with the President. The image of Congress has taken a beating ever since the mercy petition was submitted to the President. Almost on all the occasions BJP had spoken clearly on the issue of terrorism being supported and terrorist activities being carried out by a particular group and its sympathizers but the Congress has always stopped short of criticizing the sympathizers. The Congress party needs to reinvent itself in the changing scenario if it wants to win at the Parliamentary elections. It must learn to call a spade a spade.

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