Congress – The waiting game. 

People are waiting; cadres, supporters are waiting; maybe leaders are also waiting for high commands signal; Rahul is waiting for the support of these leaders; he has already indicated that he is ready to do what the party says; all are playing goody-goody waiting game.

Meanwhile, BJP is removing brick by brick from the dilapidated but not yet fully ruined monument of Congress and more from opposition parties. They are trying to build a superstructure that too a ‘mansion’ for BJP using these bricks without ‘mortar’ or cement but money to bind.

Why Congress is not proactive? The lethargy, overconfidence, lack of ground-level connectivity were always a weak factor and now has almost disappeared except in few areas. Even their survival instinct, experience, talent could not evolve an effective response mechanism.

Congress cadres, supporters are living on hopes; believe that some positive actions are happening even while getting dejected by results on the ground. The truth is nothing is happening. Massive work is in waiting. They should not gloat about occasional positive signals, glitters.

If at all Congress is waiting to act, preparations would have been visible. It is not so. It can not be said for sure that they have a process ready. Rahul can discern and adopt the right process but it has to be evolved. A lot of discussions, preparations, planning are required. 

They may adopt their traditional approach appointing experienced, senior leaders for specific territories, tasks. It has not produced good results for long. If they expect to produce a result this time, their ground-level machinery must be in full readiness to execute plans, process.

It can make everyone comfortable in the short term if painstaking efforts are not necessitated to achieve results. But without pains, Congress is not going to be healthy. Even if some recovery is made and if fascist regime exits by its own failures, confusions may follow.

Congress cannot simply afford to ignore its weaknesses, failures and the root causes for the same. They have to work for rooting out systemic faults and errors through a complete, comprehensive process of discussions, analyses. Their brainstorming sessions may not be enough.

Is it really so necessary to go through such a complicated process? The answer is yes and no. Rahul can change the atmosphere totally if he is given free hand; gets full support from his leaders. People may trust him and rally behind him. Congress may rule with the support of others.

But if Rahul is given the freedom he needs, he will try to eliminate the weaknesses in Congress. He may adopt the right process to do it. He is aware of the weaknesses. He is presently blocked from setting them right. It must be set right for good of Congress and the country.

Congress – Systemic failures

Few contend that everything is fine with the Congress party. Some problems, infights will always be there. It is a part of the democratic process. One may say, it is part of the system. But the hidden question is whether such problems are hurting the functioning; are they avoidable. 

Near nonexistence from many states, lack of ground-level connectivity with people, cadres, supporters are not minor issues. It may hurt some if it is called systemic failure. It is not that only public institutions have a system but even groups, associations have it. 

It is a process to preempt, control, eliminate failures which hurt them. When Congress is still a major political force it hurts the party, people and country. Congress also has rules, procedures to exercise control. When they are not effective, it becomes a systemic failure.

The charisma of a leader alone cannot control such failures. Whether it is Rahul or Rajini. I drag Rajini’s name here as he referred to systemic decay in governance; was to float party to correct, bring in changes in the system. Charisma, good intentions alone are not enough.

Rajini is a very good person. He listens to all views. But he is emotional, passionate in his love for his fans and people; well-intentioned. He wanted to change the system. But his party, even in its womb had moles and holes. Even to float a party a system should be in place.

Whether it is Congress or any party, it should not be dependent on a leader, his/ her charisma. It should be self-surviving; it should be system based with checks and balances to withstand all eventualities. When it gets to an individual, leader centric then it ends with them. 

It is unbelievable how Congress leaders with so much of political existence and experience, could manage to destroy their system, maybe over decades by moths, moles, leaders. They talk about vacancy and occupancy of the politburo, working committee as the root cause for failures. 

When a problem crops up they are perplexed; find scapegoats and go to sleep. Definitely, they have many experts. Perhaps they are selective about their choices and fields; have the halo around them of being recognised leaders, but throw logic and commonsense out of the window.

It hurts when we point out the failures of individuals with talents, merits. But if the truth hurts we cannot help. Successes are not foolproof and so also failures are not intelligence-proof. It is also not the failure of individuals but a collective atmosphere that ignored reality.

The charisma without a system will not work; will fail. Congress had its system working, maybe was not visible. It was suppressed by charismatic leaders. Their logic and sense were right; reflected people’s aspiration. Now its leaders except few are disconnected from people.

A constant self-examination of Congress; analysis of its systemic failures is a must. A fascist party may work like a bania company with their business perception, secrecy, mystery, thuggery and will end with its fascist. A democratic, responsible Congress cannot afford it.