“Ask them” are two the favorite words used by the senior party leaders and even some senior ministers who are not involved in resolving the Anna crisis, They are reluctant to specify who they mean by ‘ them.” The party is peeved that the government did not consult the party during the crisis. With the Congress President Sonia Gandhi away abroad for treatment, they do not know whom to turn to.

The differences are at three levels. The first is within the government, the second is within the party and the third is between the party and the government.

As for within the government, it is no big secret that the ministers have aired their views freely always while the Prime Minister as the first among the equals has watched on helplessly. What should be worrying him is that the differences exist even at the top level. A glaring example was that when the Home Minister Chidambaram and HRD minister Kapil Sibal were handling the issue, the others adopted a hands off policy. Chidambaram – Kapil Sibal duo got the flak not only from the cabinet colleagues but also from the party. Later when it was given to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Law Minister Salman Khurshid, the former duo began to sulk. Almost all the other ministers, including the allies were keeping aloof and watching what was going on. Even Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was roped in the last stages of the crisis, has claimed that he was given a limited role, which he had fulfilled.

Then there are differences between Pranab Mukherjee and P. Chidambaram, which have their echoes in the newspaper stories about their ministries, which embarrass both. Although the public may not easily understand it, there is no doubt about their differences. The recent ones include the bugging of the Finance Minister’s office and the Prime minister asking the IB to enquire into that without informing the Home Minister. Recently, there have been stories embarrassing the Finance Minister, which has made him red faced. Defence Minister who is in the core committee of the party as well as government has been keeping aloof during the entire crisis.

There are also differences within the party at the way Anna crisis was handled. First most of the MPs did not know who was doing what and they were dismayed that they were unable to go to their constituencies because the crisis was prolonged. Things became somewhat clear only after Pranab Mukherjee briefed them recently. Many MPs were upset that the Prime Minister did not choose to attend that meeting. In the last days of the crisis, the younger MPs, particularly the Rahul supporters including some young ministers like Sachin Pilot, Milind Deora and R.P.N. Singh literally sat outside the Prime Minister’s room to make sure that the crisis ended and negotiations were on the right track. The party was confused as to how to defend itself. In short the party is rudderless and leaderless since Sonia Gandhi had gone abroad. Their hopes of Rahul Gandhi leading them from the front have been dashed, as he too did not make much effort.

The differences between the party and the government are also growing. The party had distanced itself from the Anna crisis leaving the blame to the government. Even the members of the four member committee setup by Sonia Gandhi before she left for her treatment abroad, have taken a “hands off” position as they claim that at least three of the members did not know what was happening at the government level. There was dismay when Anna was arrested and sent to jail after which the movement picked up dramatically.

The latest grouse is that the government did not take Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion to make the Lokpal a constitutional authority at the time of passing the resolution in Parliament to satisfy Anna. Some senior party leaders are also suggesting that it should be sent to the Standing Committee, which is examining the Lokpal bill so that the bill could come out stronger and sharper. There may be opposition for this as the BJP leader L.K. Advani has already commented that it may delay the bill.

While the party is waiting for the return of its chief Sonia Gandhi from abroad, there are many who believe that this cannot go on. With the crucial Assembly elections to U.P and Punjab and three other states staring in the face, the party has to pull up its socks and show an untied face.

First of all there should be a mid course correction in the party to restore its confidence. The government – party links, which seem to have broken now, should be repaired at the earliest Before Sonia Gandhi went abroad, the party was stronger and could impose its will on the government but that confidence is shaken now during the Anna crisis.

Secondly, the party should stick to its one-man one post concept instead of one man holding more than one ministry and also looking after the states for the party. There are so many capable people in the party who have not been given any responsibility.

Thirdly, Rahul Gandhi should take a more important role and fill up any vacuum in the absence of Sonia Gandhi. There are expectations that he may be appointed as the working president or the vice president to give him more authority in the party. But with or without this new position, Rahul Gandhi is the undisputed leader in the party. The on going parliament session and the handling of the Anna crisis have brought out the deficiencies in the government as well as the party. (IPA Service)