2

Nov

Has Congress found a leader in Kharge?

image

New Delhi, 2 November 2023

Dr Satish Misra 

Exactly a year back, the Congress had held its party elections electing 80 year old Malikarjun Kharge in a contest against a suave and an able communicator who was also a darling of the social media platforms Shashi Tharoor, to lead the party whose political fortunes had sunk so low that even incorrigible optimists were not ready to bet on. It appeared to be an almost impossible task for a Dalit leader not having roots in the cow belt.        
Since its electoral rout in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, the Congress was at its lowest ebb or to use a harsher description was on the death-bed since it was founded in 1885. Never before, it had faced such a crisis, suffering from organizational decay or was so divided despite the presence and commitment of the Gandhi-Nehru family. 
The country’s oldest political party had been written off by the national and international media and even diehard Congress supporters were so frustrated and disillusioned that they began to take seriously Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan ‘Congress- Mukt Bharat’ slogan even though for a flick of a second only.    
The then party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi, backed by former party chief Rahul Gandhi, was ready to hold party elections so that reins could be handed over to a non-Gandhi leader who could revive party to defend the threatened ‘Idea of India’ that had been inherited by Mahatma Gandhi led freedom movement and had been primarily nurtured and sustained successfully though with some faults by the Congress since 1947.  
The Congress top leadership that including the Nehru-Gandhi family had zeroed on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as a leader who could lead the party after getting elected. He had emerged as a consensus choice but Gehlot was not willing to vacate the chief ministerial chair to lead the party and backed out almost at the last moment. Thus Kharge emerged as an accidental choice with some doubts particularly in the context of his being from Karnataka and not from a Hindi speaking northern state where the Congress was facing the toughest challenge. 
Today, Kharge has outwitted his critics who were not tired of saying that he being Gandhis’ choice will only prove to a rubber stamp. Gandhis will continue to pull strings from behind, it was said. He has proved them wrong as he stands tall in the party and commands respect from his friends and foes alike as he acts firmly though after his efforts to evolve a consensus on knotty issues have failed. He is more of a unifier than a leader of a group or faction.   
Within a year, the Congress has emerged a credible political force that is ready to challenge the BJP’s monopoly on political power achieved through use of all fair and foul means and destruction of country’s autonomous institutions. 
In states of Himachal and Karnatka, the Congress has wrested power from the BJP under his leadership and now the party is engaged in tough contest against the BJP in three Hindi-speaking states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan with predictions of prospects of its victory in the closely contested battle being rated high. In Telangana, the Congress has relegated the BJP from the position of being a challenger to the 10 year old government of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and has emerged a potential winner of the assembly elections next month. In Mizoram too, the Congress is a serious challenger. 
Kharge led Congress is at the fulcrum of the opposition alliance INDIA that was formed in June this year and is giving sleepless nights to Prime Minister Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance. Ever since, the alliance came to be called INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), the Prime Minister has become uncomfortable going into election mode launching bitter and irrational attacks on the opposition.   
This would not have been possible if Kharge didn’t revive inner democracy in the party and had not reestablished healthy traditions of debate, deliberations and consensual decision making. The party holds regular meetings of the Congress Working Committee where free and frank discussions take place. At a recently held CWC meetings, members discussed OBC reservation and Palestine issues at length and resolution on these issues were adopted only after the draft went through changes, party insiders point out. Away from high command culture, the Congress is aiming to strive high under his leadership.  
Many former leaders of the party who had migrated to other parties including the BJP in search of greener pastures are waiting for opportune moments or what it is known today as ‘Ghar Vapsi’. Some have already returned in Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Telangana and others waiting in que.                
The party in return has officially acknowledged that the Congress has made “significant progress” under his leadership. "Having risen through the ranks, he is an ideal example of what passion and persistence can achieve," the party stressed. 
Kharge embodies the virtues of the Indian National Congress - Virtues of democracy, social justice, secularism, inclusive growth and patriotism," the Congress said in a post on X on Thursday.  
From a humble position of a block-level leader to becoming the party's elected president, his journey studded with 55 years of electoral success is a testament to his hard work, dedication and commitment to the cause of democracy, the Congress said.
"He is a fearless leader who fights for and defends the ideals he believes in. He also champions the rights of the poor and marginalised," the party said.
Notwithstanding the praise heaped by the Congress which may sound to many as a eulogy but what he has proved in the short period of one year appears to be merely the proverbial icing on the cake.  He has many shocks still in store and far more surprises for naysayers.

  • Share:

About Us

We must explain to you how all seds this mistakens idea off denouncing pleasures and praising pain was born and I will give you a completed accounts..

Contact Us

Contact Info

  • 70, Gyan Khand- 4, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Uttar Pradesh.
  • +91-9810533682
  • info@mediamap.co.in
  • Week Days: 09.00 to 18.00 Sunday: Closed