Some of the congress leaders are sure that Rahul cannot lead Congress to power.  We are always certain about what others cannot do. We are not so sure or ignore what we cannot do. Now let us ask some questions. Who is the alternative to Rahul, Gandhi family to lead Congress?

In many states, they only have a mere presence with diehard cadres and supporters.  Congress has to undertake the job to revive, strengthen it all over the country.  They cannot do it without organisational reconstruction and resurrection. There is no one visible except Rahul.

The group culture has taken roots and will not go away so easily. These groups within led to the destruction of the party. Congress cannot survive anymore unless these groups are eliminated. A new leader can only emerge with their support and cannot neutralise these groups.

How many leaders will obey the new leader? Can they bring about drastic changes in Congress? Will they even talk about it seriously? Any move to bring in internal democracy would unsettle the group identity, its leaders and their power bargaining. Will anyone take that risk?

Most of the Congress leaders feel they are great ‘internally’; do not recognise others’ merit so easily. When they are intelligent, experienced, knowledgeable, how can others be better than them? How many are going to listen to a new leader? How will the pressures be handled?

Here I recollect the writings of Macaulay about a kid joining the school. He had no friends on day 1, 3 friends on the 2nd day, 2 more friends and 3 enemies on the 3rd day. In Congress, a leader will have no enemies on the 1st day, 5 open + 10 invisible enemies on the 2nd day.

That is the stark reality of Congress. The leadership should be able to coordinate the contribution of all and bring about the necessary changes without unnecessarily and unduly hurting the visible and invisible enemies within. They need not be thrown to the waiting ‘wolves’.

Organisational reconstruction is a mammoth task. Only a mass leader like Rahul who has wide acceptance in the party and the country in all geographical areas can make it happen. You may have the best brains to prepare plans. But better brains will be working to thwart it.

When a country with all the constitution, independent authorities supposed to provide checks and balances and judges who take the oath to protect the constitution, are unable to save democracy, no leader without mass backing can bring back inner-party democracy in Congress.

If there is a magic bowl, anyone young or old can bring about miracles. It does not happen in the real world. Hard work is needed. Our Congress leaders work little, talk little but think about their past achievement, glory, experience and expertise. It serves no purpose.

If 10 or 15 senior leaders relinquish their ambition and work for the party on the ground in all states beyond their local territories it may spread a message, change perception, image of the party and take it back to the golden days of Congress. Again it will be a miracle.

We are blindly adventuristic in our search for alternatives and land in a disaster like Modi. Still, our itch for trying the dangerous and risky path never dies. If we continue we can dream of a chance for Congress in 2029, 2034 and so on, if it exists and if elections are held.

Let us be realistic. Those who have an aversion to the Gandhi family should understand that as at present there is no alternative to Rahul to resurrect Congress. A strong Congress is absolutely essential for defeating Modi. Let us not commit the same mistake again and again.