Congress must save itself to preserve democracy

The star of Congress is sinking but it needs to revive its libido to keep the ideals of democracy intact in the nation as it can only be a true and good opposition that is a sine qua non for the soul of our political structure as envisioned by the framers of constitution. Although constitution itself needs an independent and non political review to attune it to the goals of prosperity by diminishing poverty and inequality as well as growth to meet the demands of new world order. In this context to renew the spirit of healthy debate and mass contact to reflect their aspirations are unshakable routes.

Congress is not the only party to perform the role of good opposition as neither left nor regional outfits have the vision of future of this country. Left itself is vanishing with a few pockets of influence. AAP is emerging as a substitute for Congress but that is what will spell disaster of anarchism with manipulative and unethical politics. This has become pretty clear with the working of AAP in last few years and dwindling governance of Delhi. As Captain Amrinder Singh and Bajwa have already read the writing on the wall that they have competition with AAP that will fight to capture space from them and could be major hurdle in their recapturing Punjab power. Same has happened in Delhi. Congress needs to strongly etch out its identity as the party of Gandhi Patel and Nehru.

Congress has made a blunder in aping BJP to stall the parliament and oppose everything that NDA wants to do . It is painting the party as anti development and not a good role for a constructive and responsible opposition. It is true that it has received heavy drubbing in Parliament Polls and got only 44 seats in a parliament of more than 500. But should act gracefully to accept the mandate of the country and work to change the route it followed which led to disaster. First of all it has to remove the stigma of scams and corruption which has tarnished its record of governance. It must now set its house in order and remove all those CMs and leaders who are tainted. This operation clean up must send a message that Party means business and is earnest to be real follower Gandhi Nehru tradition. It need not compete with BJP to say they too are corrupt or they too were stalling parliament but its must set its own model and clean image as a responsible opposition that can emerge as the majority next time. Even Robert Wadra should be asked to take a back seat and not bask in lime light.

Next big task before Congress is to set its organization in order that has been butchered and deformed by the corrupt and ambitious leaders. The poison of corruption and money power has been injected vein deep in the cadres and those who are honest and clean get elbowed out by the money power. It needs heavy surgical operation to restore its health. Any sick person need to flush out his poison and toxic element. Now the party has nothing to lose but its shackles to use words of Marx as it is already being wiped out and Bihar will not give it much hope. It should go for a  major and drastic overhaul. Sonia Gandhi has no threat as no one has staked claim to leadership and no one could do so as long as dynasty has the control. No competent leader is in sight to replace the dynasty.

Congress should draw out a fresh and new agenda for action as simply countering Modi is not a positive and long term success mantra. Once the grass root cadres, cleaned and revitalized, start work with masses it will slowly regain their confidence. There is no instant solution and Party should not seek miraculous cure. Patient and long term revival is the only route but strategy and direction has to be clear.

Rahul must be briefed well and trained to avoid wearing mantle of Aristotle when talking to folks as when he says Poverty is state of mind etc. He must be given sensible and logical scripts and act as the humble soldier of the party rather than Don Quixote. By euphemism or denigrating words he cannot capture the imagination of masses as they would like to think of him as nice young man and not such wily and scornful person as he is posing for the sake of opposing NDA at any cost. For reinventing Congress the party should avoid aping AAP or Modi as both have their own way but he must chose fresh and new direction rather than doing what they do .Gandhi was original and so were leaders who made a mark in politics although they learn from all successful models but not blindly copy them. Let be humble soldier leading lone a battle for truth in Congress rather than a spoiled child image.

Bus Stand

First passeger: Anurag Thakur again hit sixer by successful IPL match in Dharamshala. What will Congress do?l

Second Passenger. They will soon do Hawabazi by paragliding .

--Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India