Delhi Assembly Polls : Challenges before the Congress
December 5, 2014
The beleaguered Congress faces an uphill task in Delhi – not just to rediscover its groove but to prevent complete decimation in the ensuing Assembly election in the city-state.
The party, which had won just eight of the 70 seats in last year’s Assembly elections, could not even be the runners-up in any of the Assembly segments in the General Elections this summer.
December 5, 2014
The beleaguered Congress faces an uphill task in Delhi – not just to rediscover its groove but to prevent complete decimation in the ensuing Assembly election in the city-state.
The party, which had won just eight of the 70 seats in last year’s Assembly elections, could not even be the runners-up in any of the Assembly segments in the General Elections this summer.
Congress Suffering Electoral Setbacks Pan-India
However, the poll outcome in Delhi is not an isolated case as the Congress lost almost everywhere, bagging just 44 seats in the last General Elections. Its obituaries are already being written in its citadels, whether Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh. The number of such states where the party is now reduced to a rump is ever growing. There has been a split in the party in Tamil Nadu and its prospects are not encouraging in the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand as well.
Apart from the various scams that came to light during the Manmohan Singh government, economic slowdown, policy paralysis and the failure to check rising prices – particularly food inflation – were other significant attributes that made the Congress unpopular with the masses.
However, the poll outcome in Delhi is not an isolated case as the Congress lost almost everywhere, bagging just 44 seats in the last General Elections. Its obituaries are already being written in its citadels, whether Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh. The number of such states where the party is now reduced to a rump is ever growing. There has been a split in the party in Tamil Nadu and its prospects are not encouraging in the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand as well.
Apart from the various scams that came to light during the Manmohan Singh government, economic slowdown, policy paralysis and the failure to check rising prices – particularly food inflation – were other significant attributes that made the Congress unpopular with the masses.
Apart from the various scams that came to light during the Manmohan Singh government, economic slowdown, policy paralysis and the failure to check rising prices – particularly food inflation – were other significant attributes that made the Congress unpopular with the masses.
Sonia-Rahul Gandhi Leadership has Come under Fire
Pertinently, BJP leader (now finance minister) Arun Jaitley wrote in his blog on 14th May: “…Being a party controlled by a family it is inherent in the belief of the Congress …The Gandhis never make a mistake…The Congress will be in no mood to come on a correction course. It will be compelled to justify the same error which has cost it Election 2014″.
Ever since, much has been spoken even within the Congress on the leadership quality of the Nehru-Gandhi scion, Rahul Gandhi. The finance minister in the UPA-II, P Chidambaram is the latest to fire the salvo against the party leadership and was quoted as saying: ““It so happens that he (Rahul Gandhi) belongs to that family but that does not mean other younger leaders cannot emerge…”
Pertinently, BJP leader (now finance minister) Arun Jaitley wrote in his blog on 14th May: “…Being a party controlled by a family it is inherent in the belief of the Congress …The Gandhis never make a mistake…The Congress will be in no mood to come on a correction course. It will be compelled to justify the same error which has cost it Election 2014″.
Ever since, much has been spoken even within the Congress on the leadership quality of the Nehru-Gandhi scion, Rahul Gandhi. The finance minister in the UPA-II, P Chidambaram is the latest to fire the salvo against the party leadership and was quoted as saying: ““It so happens that he (Rahul Gandhi) belongs to that family but that does not mean other younger leaders cannot emerge…”
No Alternative Leadership to Sheila Dikshit Emerging in Delhi Congress
Undoubtedly, the Congress has lost more in states because the party’s high command culture stifled the growth of local leadership at the grassroots level. This is apparent in Delhi too where after the fall of Sheila Dikshit, the party is still unable to find a suitable face with mass appeal. Dikshit too, who is not keen to contest this time, alluded to this aspect when she pointed out that while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had already started their respective election campaigns, the Congress was “yet to begin”(its preparations).
Undoubtedly, the Congress has lost more in states because the party’s high command culture stifled the growth of local leadership at the grassroots level. This is apparent in Delhi too where after the fall of Sheila Dikshit, the party is still unable to find a suitable face with mass appeal. Dikshit too, who is not keen to contest this time, alluded to this aspect when she pointed out that while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had already started their respective election campaigns, the Congress was “yet to begin”(its preparations).
High-Level Committee to Chalk Out Congress Strategy for Delhi
Obviously, the party has much of introspection to do quickly to ensure its presence felt in the Delhi elections. Pushed to the wall, Congress vice president Rahul has appointed a high-level committee of his loyalists to
- Galvanise party cadres
- Win back the confidence of the Dalits who had largely shifted their loyalty to the AAP in the last elections (Political analysts have deliberated over the consequence of the Dalits who make for 30 Assembly seats of Delhi, deserting the Congress in favour of the AAP in the city state).
- Hold back to the Muslims (four of the eight Congress winners were Muslims)
- Connect with the youth – which has emerged as an influential vote bank in recent times
In the last Delhi Assembly elections, the AAP did succeed making a dent in the Congress’s traditional support base of Muslims, Dalits and Brahmins in Delhi. Another jolt to the Congress was the fact that Delhi’s urban middle class and the youth were swayed by the NaMo magic.
Obviously, the party has much of introspection to do quickly to ensure its presence felt in the Delhi elections. Pushed to the wall, Congress vice president Rahul has appointed a high-level committee of his loyalists to
- Galvanise party cadres
- Win back the confidence of the Dalits who had largely shifted their loyalty to the AAP in the last elections (Political analysts have deliberated over the consequence of the Dalits who make for 30 Assembly seats of Delhi, deserting the Congress in favour of the AAP in the city state).
- Hold back to the Muslims (four of the eight Congress winners were Muslims)
- Connect with the youth – which has emerged as an influential vote bank in recent times
In the last Delhi Assembly elections, the AAP did succeed making a dent in the Congress’s traditional support base of Muslims, Dalits and Brahmins in Delhi. Another jolt to the Congress was the fact that Delhi’s urban middle class and the youth were swayed by the NaMo magic.
Congress Needs to Present a Clear Ideology to Voters
However, securing Muslim votes without “annoying’ the Hindus constitutes the challenge that the party faces in the wake of the ever growing debate over secularism and Hindutva and resulting polarisation.
Party insiders say the Congress now needs a clarity on ideology because it is no more seen as an “umbrella party” that could attract votes of Dalits, Upper Castes and Muslims alike.
The party seems to be at crossroads and the biggest challenge before the Congress is to deliver results. It needs to stick to the basics and it is being realised that to ensure voters’ support, local workers and leaders should be “polite” and of a “helping nature” – something that was perceptibly missing when the party was in power.
However, securing Muslim votes without “annoying’ the Hindus constitutes the challenge that the party faces in the wake of the ever growing debate over secularism and Hindutva and resulting polarisation.
Party insiders say the Congress now needs a clarity on ideology because it is no more seen as an “umbrella party” that could attract votes of Dalits, Upper Castes and Muslims alike.
The party seems to be at crossroads and the biggest challenge before the Congress is to deliver results. It needs to stick to the basics and it is being realised that to ensure voters’ support, local workers and leaders should be “polite” and of a “helping nature” – something that was perceptibly missing when the party was in power.
Congress on a Course Correction
Though belatedly, the Congress in Delhi has now embarked on a course correction. To begin with, it set up a “16-member department” for scheduled castes in an attempt to win back the Dalit voters to its fold. Besides, the party has also announced that it will not field any tainted candidate in the upcoming elections. Reports suggest that to ensure proper feedback on the possible candidates, the party has now appointed observers in all the 70 constituencies.
Yet, what the Congress needs is a popular face that could lead it to a position of strength in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi faces the burden to introspect and reinvent himself. He is already under the pressure to earn his position in the Congress through a proper ‘contest’. Rahul needs to be more visible and upfront to make the Congress do well in Delhi. Obviously, the Delhi Assembly election would be one test he would be desperately looking to pass.
Though belatedly, the Congress in Delhi has now embarked on a course correction. To begin with, it set up a “16-member department” for scheduled castes in an attempt to win back the Dalit voters to its fold. Besides, the party has also announced that it will not field any tainted candidate in the upcoming elections. Reports suggest that to ensure proper feedback on the possible candidates, the party has now appointed observers in all the 70 constituencies.
Yet, what the Congress needs is a popular face that could lead it to a position of strength in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi faces the burden to introspect and reinvent himself. He is already under the pressure to earn his position in the Congress through a proper ‘contest’. Rahul needs to be more visible and upfront to make the Congress do well in Delhi. Obviously, the Delhi Assembly election would be one test he would be desperately looking to pass.
Comments
Post a Comment