Resurrecting Congress – Will the phoenix rise?

The recent poll debacle is one of the worst that Congress has ever faced in its long history. In a democracy every political party is important especially parties like Congress which has seen the crests and troughs of several elections. While it is a matter of shame for Congress to have lost so badly, it is not a good sign for the people of India as strong national parties are the only saviors in an increasingly polarized and fragmented Indian political system dominated by regional parties in the last 30 years.

The grand old party should quickly pick its ropes and rebuild itself to regain the lost glory. Here are some quick ways in which it can do so:

Change the Top - It is high time that the entire top leadership stepped aside and made way for a new set of people through a process of election to run the party from now on. It is important that the present leaders do not contest for any party post. Congress should remember that one of its best PMs P.V.Narasimha Rao rose from the ranks. Hanging on to dynasty will no longer work. This would pave way for new thinking and approach to governance of the party.

Play a constructive Opposition role - Politics in India is restricted to criticizing the other parties irrespective of their merits. Appreciation of the goodness in opposite parties or leaders on the other side is a strict no-no for some strange historic reasons. However, when a leader dies, all other leaders heap praises on the departed soul leaving the public wonder that there was so much ‘positive’ in the dead leader. With its vast experience of almost 55 years of being in the government, Congress should help/support/facilitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver results to the people. This would send a positive signal to the people of India about the party and also rejuvenate the spirit of Congress workers in the right direction.

Empower Pradesh Congress Committees - By habit, the PCCs have a self-imposed obsession of HIGH COMMAND. This High Command approach has created too many groups at a regional level in the party with their own godfathers at Delhi so much that the PCC chiefs are just namesake. Persons with proven credentials and administrative skills are to be appointed as PCC chiefs and they should be given the full authority to run the party. Long standing and committed party workers are to be utilized to work for the people across the nook and corner of each state. This would ensure that a sense of discipline prevails in the Party and help in building future leaders.

Engage the Young – In elections 2014, as per Election Commission of India’s figures, 23.1 million or 2.7% of total eligible voters are in the 18-19 age group. They are a generation who do not want to be bothered about history or greatness of the past. They desire to live in the present and are driven by future prospects. They are tech-savvy and prefer quick solutions for their problems. They need leaders who lead by example and who can be followed. So banking on legacies will no longer work. Congress should immediately take steps to understand their aspirations and requirements and be in a position to fulfill those by working for them. The party should start engaging the them in overall functioning based on individual merits and not based on dynastic ‘rights’. This would help the party in sustaining in the long run.

Correcting the ‘connections’ & ‘collections’ - Congress should immediately delink with its alliance partners in UPA who were directly involved in the scams and seriously disown its corrupt leaders even if such an act is an embarrassment at this stage. The PM got away with the scams in the name of ‘coalition dharma’ and continuing in power, but the voters didn’t forgive. The ultimate loser was Congress and also its partners. So it is time to bid adieu to all such partners/leaders at whatever cost and start all over again. If required, Congress should help the new government in fixing the parties/leaders including its own involved in large scale corruption. This calls for a really brave heart and strong willingness to reemerge as a party seriously concerned about public. Such a move would help Congress to come clean from all the scam sins.

If the party looks at a serious paradigm shift in its overall approach starting with these steps, there are good chances for Congress to resurrect and rededicate itself in the service of the nation.

The country needs good national parties. A renewed and changed Congress, a New Congress will keep the democracy live and kicking (not the people, of course).

For all-round progress, India needs a stable government as well as a strong and constructive Opposition. One of my good friends from Congress expects it to rise like a phoenix and I wish his expectation comes true.