Some signals of Congress turn around are visible. One of them is the sweep in the Punjab elections. But Congress should be cautious and also bring changes within to ensure a risk-free, more comprehensive turnaround. Congress has its strengths, USPs. It need not have self-doubts.

Congress is a responsive, responsible party reflecting basic principles, philosophies and preferences of the vast majority of Indians. One reason for this is being mass-based. Further, it has the culture of consultations, discussions cultivated from inception. It still retains it.

Changes in Congress strategies, approaches do not happen so easily. It is conservative, cautious which is reflective of its basic character. There is nothing much wrong with it as it considers all views, moderates and consolidates them before proceeding ahead with actions.

It is part of a thinking process that is needed for any organisation. But the problem comes up when it is not as free and healthy as required. Congress has produced many experts in administration. Many of them are not having a mass following and connected to the ground. 

They start dominating the political process, decisions. Their success and expertise in the administration do not guarantee their political acumen. Congress during the last few decades were ruled, controlled by leaders with administrative expertise than with political skills.

The proliferation of such administrative leaders everywhere imposing their experience and seniority led to political failures. This is a natural outcome as they believe that they know it all and so do not listen to others views or allow free flow of information. So it fails.

This may be hard to digest for passionate Congress cadres, supporters. Unfortunately, this is the truth though there may be some exceptions to this rule. It is also true that the political leaders who emerged from the grassroots also tend to show intransigence leading to failures.

We cannot blame these leaders as such. It is basically human failings and tendencies to dominate, impose views. The checks and balances are to be in place to overcome such attitudinal and psychological problems that often emerge in any organisation.

We can overcome human failings if we set the process right by removing the obstructions to the free flow of information, discussion, dispassionate analysis. Right conclusions will more often than not emerge out of this. A total no-nonsense approach is needed.

It may appear to be a massive correction that is needed. It is not necessarily so. Some tweaks to the existing process used may be enough to bring about vast improvements, huge benefits. This is nothing new. The consultations, discussions were part of the Congress culture.

What is new is Congress has too many leaders who have expertise but unwilling to listen and absorb. The artificial blockages in the thinking process should be eliminated. Every angle, opportunities should be thoroughly explored. It is all the more needed to defeat fascists.

The structure and functioning of Congress have weakened in the absence of necessary corrective action. It is not utilising its USPs; lost its connectivity with people; failed to project itself as a viable alternative. It has to blame itself not BJP or any other external factors.

The inevitability of Rahul leading Congress, the importance of his foresight, are increasingly gaining acceptance and recognition. This is another signal for the turnaround. Rahul is gentle, warm like Rajiv, has the firmness of Indira, intuitions of Sonia and foresight of his own.