What the ‘Grand Old Party’ needs to learn from the BJP is not only how to win elections but also how to form a Government or at least dislodge the incumbent by triggering defections and fanning a rift in the rival camp. With the resignation of Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy ahead of a floor test, the Congress has lost its only Government in the South. That, too, when crucial Assembly elections in five States — Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — are round the corner. The party’s failure lies not only in losing successive elections but also in its inability to maintain its hold over places where it has formed the Government. All of this points to a weak leadership, demoralised rank and file, lack of planning and coordination and factionalism. While the BJP has a league of leaders, including from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishva Hindu Parishad, apart from its own cadres who reach out to various communities in a strategic and well-planned manner months ahead of an election, the Congress is literally bereft of such a “strong line” and its grassroots workers are apparently devoid of the confidence needed to win polls. The party still solely depends upon its age-old formula of banking on the Gandhi surname for electoral breakthroughs. However, the plan has now become obsolete and the Congress needs to roll up its sleeves and refurbish its image among the voters.

Even as the party tries its best to recuperate from various setbacks with Rahul Gandhi’s aggressive campaigning for the upcoming Assembly polls, the party does not have an elected president. Last month, the Congress announced that it will have an elected president by June 2021. This entails a message: Either the party doesn’t want to lose crucial time ahead of polls in conducting internal elections or it is shielding its “Yuvraj” from the ignominy of losing elections, if that happens. Further, most of the Congress leaders still toe the line of the Gandhis and the way important decisions are taken in the party shows the lack of democracy there. Recently, the party’s highest decision-making body — the Congress Working Committee — had authorised Sonia Gandhi to schedule the internal elections after the conclusion of the Assembly polls in five States. With the latest setback in Puducherry, the party’s political footprint has shrunk further and it is now in power on its own in just three States — Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. For the Congress, the battle ahead is an uphill task. However, if it wants to even be in the contest, it needs to bring about systemic changes, both within the party as well as in its strategy of reaching out to the masses. The Congress must also learn from the BJP that in order to win polls, it’s more important to make tall promises rather than fulfil these on time. Else, it must stay contented with the Punjab civic polls victory. As of now, the BJP seems too formidable for the Congress.

What the ‘Grand Old Party’ needs to learn from the BJP is not only how to win elections but also how to form a Government or at least dislodge the incumbent by triggering defections and fanning a rift in the rival camp. With the resignation of Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy ahead of a floor test, the Congress has lost its only Government in the South. That, too, when crucial Assembly elections in five States — Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — are round the corner. The party’s failure lies not only in losing successive elections but also in its inability to maintain its hold over places where it has formed the Government. All of this points to a weak leadership, demoralised rank and file, lack of planning and coordination and factionalism. While the BJP has a league of leaders, including from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishva Hindu Parishad, apart from its own cadres who reach out to various communities in a strategic and well-planned manner months ahead of an election, the Congress is literally bereft of such a “strong line” and its grassroots workers are apparently devoid of the confidence needed to win polls. The party still solely depends upon its age-old formula of banking on the Gandhi surname for electoral breakthroughs. However, the plan has now become obsolete and the Congress needs to roll up its sleeves and refurbish its image among the voters.

Even as the party tries its best to recuperate from various setbacks with Rahul Gandhi’s aggressive campaigning for the upcoming Assembly polls, the party does not have an elected president. Last month, the Congress announced that it will have an elected president by June 2021. This entails a message: Either the party doesn’t want to lose crucial time ahead of polls in conducting internal elections or it is shielding its “Yuvraj” from the ignominy of losing elections, if that happens. Further, most of the Congress leaders still toe the line of the Gandhis and the way important decisions are taken in the party shows the lack of democracy there. Recently, the party’s highest decision-making body — the Congress Working Committee — had authorised Sonia Gandhi to schedule the internal elections after the conclusion of the Assembly polls in five States. With the latest setback in Puducherry, the party’s political footprint has shrunk further and it is now in power on its own in just three States — Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. For the Congress, the battle ahead is an uphill task. However, if it wants to even be in the contest, it needs to bring about systemic changes, both within the party as well as in its strategy of reaching out to the masses. The Congress must also learn from the BJP that in order to win polls, it’s more important to make tall promises rather than fulfil these on time. Else, it must stay contented with the Punjab civic polls victory. As of now, the BJP seems too formidable for the Congress.