CONGRESS IN SEARCH OF NEW PLANKS

                

The massive loss in the parliamentary election of 2014, followed by severe drubbings at the husting in four states have compelled the leadership of the oldest political party to review its political stand in the fast changing polityical scenario to prove its relevance. Since the repeated electoral defeats have adversely affected the morale of its cadre, such a change appears to be an immediate need.

In some recent meetings of the AICC in its Hqrs. the seniors including Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have realized that the old stress on socialism and branding of the BJP as a communal party was proving outdated. For several years, the Congress has been trumpeting to the minorities that a communal party like BJP would wipe them out. The plank served the purpose for some time but of late looks like being outdated. Though they reiterated their commitment to socialism and secularism, but  the need was felt that aggressive secularism,intended to appease the minorities, was perhaps alienating the majority. It is with a view to expose this Congress stand that the BJP coined a new slogan of “sabka saath aur sabka vikas” which is gaining ground fast.

Since the Congress started going down and depending more and more on the Leftist support, the anti-businessmen and anti-Hindu policies began being more pronounced. The rightist elements, closely watching the developments quickly grabbed the situation to polarize the scattered majority. This situation continues since early 1990s (Advani’s Rathyatra and demolition of the disputerd structure at Ayodhya) with the ding-dong of victory and defeat for both the camps. But now it is very clear that the previous policies of different political parties and regional satraps to exploit casteism, regionalism and such other petty considerations would not hoodwink the electorate any more. Therefore, there is a hectic effort, particularly in the Congress to explore other avenues. This search for points in the manifesto, though feebly, also speaks about the change in the leadership.

Socrates said: “It is better to change your opinion than to persist in a wrong one”. It is supposed to be a befitting lesson for the upcoming Congress leadership. One defeat does not cause any permanent damage. In history really resurgent political outfits have been seen reforming themselves and returning to power.