Congress can re-engineer its future by slicing AAP
When Rajiv Gandhi went on holidays in Lashdweep island I received him in Agati where his favorite project of airport was being built. He found those movements for looking at our work. There was no secret and whole country knew it. But when Rahul goes why things are different? Congress is in serious mood and everyone was waiting for the return of Prince charming of the party from unknown destination and uncertain time. Now it transpires that Rahul had gone to Thailand as he returned from that city on Thai flight. But two months in that country when Parliament is in Budget session and his own party is in turbulent stage look queer. Congress leaders are tight lipped and at the most they say that it is his personal life and no one should interfere. It is true that personal life should not be disturbed but those who are in public domain do not have much choice of total privacy. There are, however, two intriguing questions that remain to be explained: Why it is such a secret that where and for how long and for what purpose he has gone. Suppose he has gone there for holidaying there is no secret party should state openly that he has gone to Thailand for holidaying. So what, he has right to do so if his party has no objection. But hush hush about his departure and absence when he is being searched by media every day and there is no answer. What I am saying it is unworthy silence and in a system where we preach open and transparent democracy facts should be stated instead of hiding such details. Second puzzle is how investigative journalists who trace Modi’s wife in oblivion are such a magnificent failure in finding how where he was and what he was doing. There is some degree of camouflaging of the matter in media. The search or investigation by media was half hearted.
All said and done he is back and in saddle. But the way he addressed Farmer’s rally at Delhi showed him as poor orator and rude remarks made were uncalled for. Any amount of Modi bashing is of no use to Congress as Time and strength is on his side. A party that is undergoing serious phase of change and recovery has to focus on future. Congress has to discover new strategy. Although opposition parties have backed Sonya Gandhi’s leadership on Land acquisition yet they are not going to give any space to Congress in electoral matrix. They have formed their own front which is yet to get a name.
In this context Congress has to finalise its own agenda and in that AAP is important. AAP has proved in Delhi that they are eating away Congress voting power. Not only they reduced Congress to zero but also pose a threat to future of Congress. The Congress, instead of fighting and wasting its energy on BJP, strategize to eliminate AAP influence and re-capture its constituency. The stark reality is that not only Muslim but also other minorities which were traditional vote banks of Congress have started moving to AAP. Congress must stop this avalanche and erosion.
AAP has no allies except that it could claim Left or Congress as its ally but the situation as has emerged today isolates it from all parties. Congress although a supporter in Delhi has realized that more it supports AAP more it loses its own base. In Delhi it faced zero performance.
The birth of AAP stemmed from anticorruption movement and it had no ideology or mission except ending corruption. I remember to have spoken to Manish Sasodia whom I told that apart from Lok pal bill there are serious issues of electoral reforms. He told me that they have nothing else but Lokpal as their aim. They were just stuck in Lokpal.They never thought of entering politics as was the mission of Anna Hazare and the social crusaders. Kejriwal had on the other hand a different objective to capture power and bring popular goodies like free things for the people in order to gain ascendance in Indian system where free things hold a lot of attraction. Again welfarism is Congress agenda which AAP has snatched and it is high time to protect it.As AAP has no ideology Congress should corner it on this weak spot and build intellectual strength to develop new and fresh ideas to retain its old. Congress has great tradition and history and it should not stop new thinking. Unfortunately present culture of the party has deteriorated to mai bap and slavish type that no one has courage to blaze new trail. New leaders and new ideas only can demolish AAP’s onslaught on the party vote bank.
BJP has changed its agenda by putting development inlime light and taking Hindutva in the backyard. But some of their committed vote bank is unassailable as Delhi has shown where it marginally improved although lost seats. Congress should concentrate on its space and expand it which needs wiping out glitter of AAP and recovering what has been captured by AAP. Congress should also encourage talent and competence and value creative thinking rather than continuing the beaten track of old and foggy headed leaders who have sold their soul for power at any cost and cannot demonstrate sacrifice and new path.
Bus Stand
First passenger: in Himachal while buses are becoming bigger roads are getting smaller .If two buses are on road facing each other you cannot pass,
Second Passenger: You should thank Government that unlike petrol surcharge they are not charging extra for bigger buses.
----Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India
When Rajiv Gandhi went on holidays in Lashdweep island I received him in Agati where his favorite project of airport was being built. He found those movements for looking at our work. There was no secret and whole country knew it. But when Rahul goes why things are different? Congress is in serious mood and everyone was waiting for the return of Prince charming of the party from unknown destination and uncertain time. Now it transpires that Rahul had gone to Thailand as he returned from that city on Thai flight. But two months in that country when Parliament is in Budget session and his own party is in turbulent stage look queer. Congress leaders are tight lipped and at the most they say that it is his personal life and no one should interfere. It is true that personal life should not be disturbed but those who are in public domain do not have much choice of total privacy. There are, however, two intriguing questions that remain to be explained: Why it is such a secret that where and for how long and for what purpose he has gone. Suppose he has gone there for holidaying there is no secret party should state openly that he has gone to Thailand for holidaying. So what, he has right to do so if his party has no objection. But hush hush about his departure and absence when he is being searched by media every day and there is no answer. What I am saying it is unworthy silence and in a system where we preach open and transparent democracy facts should be stated instead of hiding such details. Second puzzle is how investigative journalists who trace Modi’s wife in oblivion are such a magnificent failure in finding how where he was and what he was doing. There is some degree of camouflaging of the matter in media. The search or investigation by media was half hearted.
All said and done he is back and in saddle. But the way he addressed Farmer’s rally at Delhi showed him as poor orator and rude remarks made were uncalled for. Any amount of Modi bashing is of no use to Congress as Time and strength is on his side. A party that is undergoing serious phase of change and recovery has to focus on future. Congress has to discover new strategy. Although opposition parties have backed Sonya Gandhi’s leadership on Land acquisition yet they are not going to give any space to Congress in electoral matrix. They have formed their own front which is yet to get a name.
In this context Congress has to finalise its own agenda and in that AAP is important. AAP has proved in Delhi that they are eating away Congress voting power. Not only they reduced Congress to zero but also pose a threat to future of Congress. The Congress, instead of fighting and wasting its energy on BJP, strategize to eliminate AAP influence and re-capture its constituency. The stark reality is that not only Muslim but also other minorities which were traditional vote banks of Congress have started moving to AAP. Congress must stop this avalanche and erosion.
AAP has no allies except that it could claim Left or Congress as its ally but the situation as has emerged today isolates it from all parties. Congress although a supporter in Delhi has realized that more it supports AAP more it loses its own base. In Delhi it faced zero performance.
The birth of AAP stemmed from anticorruption movement and it had no ideology or mission except ending corruption. I remember to have spoken to Manish Sasodia whom I told that apart from Lok pal bill there are serious issues of electoral reforms. He told me that they have nothing else but Lokpal as their aim. They were just stuck in Lokpal.They never thought of entering politics as was the mission of Anna Hazare and the social crusaders. Kejriwal had on the other hand a different objective to capture power and bring popular goodies like free things for the people in order to gain ascendance in Indian system where free things hold a lot of attraction. Again welfarism is Congress agenda which AAP has snatched and it is high time to protect it.As AAP has no ideology Congress should corner it on this weak spot and build intellectual strength to develop new and fresh ideas to retain its old. Congress has great tradition and history and it should not stop new thinking. Unfortunately present culture of the party has deteriorated to mai bap and slavish type that no one has courage to blaze new trail. New leaders and new ideas only can demolish AAP’s onslaught on the party vote bank.
BJP has changed its agenda by putting development inlime light and taking Hindutva in the backyard. But some of their committed vote bank is unassailable as Delhi has shown where it marginally improved although lost seats. Congress should concentrate on its space and expand it which needs wiping out glitter of AAP and recovering what has been captured by AAP. Congress should also encourage talent and competence and value creative thinking rather than continuing the beaten track of old and foggy headed leaders who have sold their soul for power at any cost and cannot demonstrate sacrifice and new path.
Bus Stand
First passenger: in Himachal while buses are becoming bigger roads are getting smaller .If two buses are on road facing each other you cannot pass,
Second Passenger: You should thank Government that unlike petrol surcharge they are not charging extra for bigger buses.
----Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India
