The Blueprint: The Hindu Editorial on Internal Elections and Congress Revival

endangered Congress is looking for ways out of the rut It has braced itself after a series of electoral defeats over the past decade. Its inability to present a cohesive, decisive and vibrant leadership at the Center has certainly played a part in this, but revitalization efforts have achieved electoral viability more quickly than addressing serious structural issues. more focused on doing. Prashant Kishor, the much-anticipated election strategist who has successfully mentored multiple parties on how to leverage new media tools, messaging and campaigning by leaders, May not have joined Congress, but his diagnosis of the party’s illness is not without merit. As a flag bearer of secularism, social democracy, scientific temper, planned development and strategic autonomy over global affairs since independence, the party managed to maintain its primacy for decades due to the legitimacy of its leadership, which played a central role in the independence movement. . and who clearly expressed these values ​​during their struggles. Discontent and discontent within the party over the issue of authoritarianism (emergency), the subsequent rise of a circle of OBC-based parties, and the gradual federalization of India’s politics led to its downfall. This was soon bested by the rise of the religious right, which better managed the politics of caste arithmetic in the Hindi heartland and western India, and the strong presence of a cadre-based force, in addition to a decisive leadership, which expressed its ideology. and agenda.

The lack of a structured cadre base that can defy Congress’ legacy and achievements is a serious weakness. But the inability to articulate ideological positions and values ​​is another disadvantage – by trying to remain a big tent of ideas, the Congress has in the past been numbed into blatant centralism or resorted to opportunistic use of non-secular values Given the impact of which the rise of BJP. There is no magic bullet to these weaknesses, but it would not hurt to burn internal democracy to reorganize the party’s leadership at various levels. Elections as a process must revitalize the organization of the party, clarify what it really is – based on its founding principles and how its sympathizers and members express them during the electoral process – and A decisive leadership must also be brought in who will legitimately claim the position. Based on the results of the election rather than by family inheritance. The practice should be able to align later with like-minded political forces (many parties that formed after splitting from the original Congress) and face voters with better solidarity.