Some of the reasons for the debacle are as clear as daylight and need no introspection. The second term of the UPA government was marked by unprecedented corruption like 2G scam and Commonwealth Games scandals, besides anti-incumbency. The last three years of UPA-II were worse with cases of corruption coming to the fore one by one. The arrogance of the Congress leaders, particularly ministers touched a new low. What is red rag to the people is corruption in public life and arrogance of the leaders of the ruling party. This Congress demonstrated this in abundance.

On his part, Rahul’s interaction with the people or his party men was minimal. He only depended on a set of young leaders around him and lost touch with the peoples pulse; in fact he had never known the pulse of the people. His nature to remain aloof proved costly. Once the decay was set in, there was no stopping. The Congress leadership also made a series of bloomers; the biggest was bifurcating the prosperous state of Andhra Pradesh. The result was that the Congress lost one of its bastions and reduced to worst-ever tally of 44 seats in the Lok Sabha after 2014 elections.

The Congress lost 9% of national vote share between 2009 and 2014, declining from 28.6% to 19.3%. Experience has shown that the Congress has found it very difficult to revive once its vote share in a state dips below 20% mark and that is a predicament it faced most recently in Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi. The Congress is in decline because of several reasons, but largely because of a remote and disengaged leadership that has ceased to think and intervene politically.

Are these issues not enough for Rahul to sit back and retrospect rather than mysteriously disappearing when he is badly needed? Regrettably, he or the Congress leadership made no visible attempt to admit responsibility, acknowledge mistakes and enthuse demoralized cadres. There has been no noticeable effort to strategize with other parties of the opposition on how to put Modi government on the mat.

Nine months into the Narendra Modi Government’s tenure and during a crucial budget session that is divided on the land acquisition bill—one of Rahul’s pet subjects—his absence is irksome.

In absence of Rahul, a debate has started on what has been described as twin centres of power. Senior leader Kamal Nath has kicked up a controversy, saying that the party has been suffering due to “twin centres of power”. He suggested that Rahul should takeover the reins of the organization from the party President Sonia Gandhi. Congress is falling between “two stools of Rahul and Sonia”. This cannot go on.

Kamal Nath is of the view that let Rahul takeover as the Congress President in place of her mother and “we will known if he is up to the task”. The present position is very difficult; “when we go to Sonia Gandhi with a problem, she tells us go to Rahul. When we go to Rahul, he tells us the Congress President will resolve the Issue.”

Another senior leader and AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, doubted that there was any rift between the two top leaders. “They belong to different generations. Obviously, every generation has a mindset”. Both Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh have been strongly advocating that Rahul should be made the Congress President. Both the leaders noted that the Congress Vice-President was facing resistance from within the party for trying to implement his ideas because some leaders felt that they would lose clout they enjoy if Rahul’s ideas were implemented.

“Some people from within the system are resisting reform measures initiated by Rahul as a few leaders have vested interests”, Digvijay said, adding “ Rahul is ready for the challenge. At the moment he is feeling constrained because he doesn’t have full powers to implement his ideas”.

The time has come for Congress to take a call. The AICC will meet in April and the issue of leadership should be resolved—whether Sonia continues or Rahul takes over. Sonia must anoint a successor or call upon elections in which the family does not take part. Congress held on to the Gandhis so far because they got votes and prevented the party from splitting. Their voting catching aura doesn’t seem to be working. This is why a clear decision is needed. If the inner party elections are held without Rahul, then the winner will have legitimacy and internal democracy will be the cement holding the party together. (IPA Service)