A week is said to be a long time in politics, and the Congress story clearly proves it. The mood has changed from jubilation to concern. The Congress-led UPA, after returning to power in 2009, was stable with a weak opposition biding its time. Things were going well for the Congress and the government. The Congress retained the three states — Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh. The opposition is in total disarray. The BJP is embroiled in its leadership crisis. The Left parties are licking their wounds after their defeat. The Samajwadi Party is fighting for survival. The BSP is facing the onslaught of the Congress scion Rahul Gandhi. The AIADMK is biding its time while the DMK chief is sorting out the succession plan. The TDP is still recovering from its defeat. In such a scenario the Congress had reasons to be jubilant about its position.

However, the midnight announcement last week on the creation of a separate Telangana has opened up a Pandora's box. After retaining the state in 2009, the Congress was stable in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, until the helicopter crash three months ago, was trying to finish the opposition and break other parties. The vacuum created by his death has weakened the party as well as the government. His successor K. Rosaiah is unable to control the dissidence within the party as well as the onslaught particularly by the TRS chief who had gone on a fast unto death. The Telangana announcement has left the Congress red faced. There is a vertical divide in the party and even in opposition parties. Secondly, the demand for smaller states from elsewhere is getting orchestrated. U.P Chief Minister Mayawati has written to the Prime Minister demanding trifurcation of the state. Thirdly, UPA's allies like NCP, DMK and Trinamool Congress are against Telangana.

All these have left a shadow on the celebrations. The Congress has every reason to be proud of its history as it dominated the country's politics from the days of freedom struggle to 1967. Rajani Kothari had called 1967 as the end of congress system. As long as Pandit Nehru was alive, the Congress did not lose its relevance despite the Sino-Indian war in 1962. This creditable achievement was because the Congress party had accumulated goodwill and leadership from the freedom struggle. Secondly, Congress was the only party established down to the village level.

After 1967, the Congress had not been able to regain its primacy because it was unable to meet the aspirations of the people. Moreover, profound changes in India's polity over the decades also contributed to the decline of the Grand Old Party. There was this rapid growth of electorate with new voters who were less appreciative of the role of Congress. New groups and new interests emerged to challenge the Congress. Identity politics and personality-oriented politics also was another reason. The party has split several times. The tremendous goodwill Rajiv Gandhi acquired after the assassination of Indira Gandhi did not last long. It had to be content with running a minority government during P.V. Narasimha Rao's regime and a coalition government under Manmohan Singh. However, the Congress party and the country's politics continue to be dominated by the Nehru- Gandhi dynasty and Rahul Gandhi is getting ready to take over the reins.

The Congress party should take a minute and introspect its own relevance in today's globalised world. The Congress should have gone in for a brain storming session as it did in Panchmarhi or in Shimla. Is the party as committed as it was to the cause of serving the people? This should be the first question Congressmen should ask themselves. Should the party weed out undesirable elements? Rajiv Gandhi had talked about the “power brokers” in his 1985 Congress Centenary celebrations speech. Though he started it in good intention, the system did not allow him to go for any reforms. Today, Congressmen themselves complain about the power brokers; some of them have even got into the legislatures and Parliament.

Moreover, although the Gandhi family has remained the unifying factor the party needs to build up strong second rung leaders to back them up. No doubt, Rahul Gandhi is gong the right way of getting to know the country before he takes over the reins but he needs to build a committed team. Leaders from different communities was a salient feature of the earlier Congress but the party is now in search of caste-based parties for tie-ups rather than promoting its own leaders. Also, despite talking against money power and muscle power, elections to the 15th Lok Sabha proved how these played a crucial role in cornering tickets. Unless meritorious people are chosen the character of politics will not change. The party should get rid of sycophants and courtiers and make the ordinary worker feel involved. Congress did a good thing by choosing the right slogan “aam admi”. But it has to be followed up with concrete action to benefit the aam admi.

If one looks at the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress is certainly at an advantage with Rahul Gandhi going on the right track. The opposition does not seem to have a leader to match him as the older generation leaders would be out of the race. If the Congress moves forward cautiously, it will be on a winning wicket notwithstanding its problems. (IPA Service)