The entire developments show that the Congress Party was able to avoid another change over to BJP soon after the debacle in Madhya Pradesh due to the strong leadership of Shri Gehlot and his political games which included counter attacks on the state BJP legislators. He played his cards well and in the last phase, even the BJP leadership was threatened with a split in their party rather than in Congress. The Rajasthan CM tactfully made use of factional fighting within the state BJP and it was his credit that he was able to neutralise the former CM Vasundhara Raje in the present battle, weakening the thrust of the BJP offensive by the Sachin camp against him. Pilot also miscalculated Vasundhara's support base in the BJP legislature party and he was wrong in putting faith in Home Minister Amit Shah's emissaries who promised him the moon.

Now, if the Rajasthan political scene finally stabilises after Pilot's ghar wapsi, the Congress leadership has to take a few lessons from this month long political turmoil. The same situation would have been possible if Rahul Gandhi would have been alert and vigilant about Madhya Pradesh about the moves of Jyotiraditya Scindia. In fact MP's scenario in the beginning was not unfavourable to the Congress. Scindia has been nursing grievances for long and he tried to meet Rahul Gandhi for nearly ten months but without success. He was not in the Cabinet and that way Kamal Nath did not face the same heat inside the cabinet as Gehlot got due to Pilot being the Deputy CM and the state Congress president.MP crisis could have been solved easily by the Congress leadership if Rahul would have been pro active. Just few meetings with Scindia would have led to a workable solution and the Congress could have retained this important state of Madhya Pradesh.

As of now, the Congress led governments are functioning in Punjab Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry. All the states are led by the CMs who are quite strong as leaders and inspire confidence of the people. Chhattisgarh CM Bhaghel has fought BJP in the state in terms of both organisation and economic programmes. He has rejuvenated the state Congress party and admitted young members from the poor and the tribals. Congress can only sustain itself in government if the top leadership in the state works with a mission for the economic upliftment of the underprivileged. Once the state government becomes popular with the people, the self seeking Congress legislators get little incentive to desert for greener fortunes in BJP.

For the Congress leadership, after the Rajasthan experience, there is no time to lose. The Party has to be reorganised in every state by roping in the leaders who matter, who have faith in the ideology of the Party. The BJP, aided by strong network of RSS and VHP is going ahead with the implementation of its agenda. The saffrons are determined to work for a Hindu Rashtra by doing away with the secular character of our great Indian nation. The Party has its control in every level of the executive, judiciary and media. For the secular parties, this is now a herculean task to weaken the BJP as it has mobilised huge financial resources and is in a position to buy self seeking legislators by offering huge funds. The BJP led government is making use of all institutions, especially its economic offences wing to tame the opposition legislators who have many things to hide. The situation in political field is now one sided.

But still, in India, parliamentary politics is functioning and elections are being held. If people become aware of what is happening in their lives, they will protest against the ruling regime. But for that the opposition has to attain that credibility and emerge as a real alternative. Congress is the main opposition party in the country, though nowhere near the strength of the BJP. But still the scope is there. Congress has to decide immediately on a permanent full time President at this crucial period of Indian politics. It must have an ideological programme to attract the poor, middle class as also the millennials. The manifesto has to be prepared taking into account the challenges of the present century.

Congress can not do it alone though it is the only party with bases in all parts of the country, among the opposition. Congress has to open dialogue with the Left and the other opposition parties who are ready to fight BJP. Right now, the focus will be on the coming assembly elections in Bihar, Assam Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Bihar and Assam, the Congress has to work for the coalition of anti-BJP forces. Rahul Gandhi may be increasing his knowledge by interacting with the top visionaries of the world. That is not bad, but far more important is revving up the party organisation in the states and preparing for a viable strategy for defeating BJP in the assembly elections. BJP is aiming to scrap secular fabric of the country through constitutional means because it has majority in Parliament. Congress has to emerge as a viable alternative and that is possible only by transforming the Party lock, stock and barrel. (IPA Service)