New Cong chief’s task: Revamp, rebuild party
party’s victories in 2004 and 2009. At one point of time in her career, the Congress was in power in 15 states.
Nearly two decades later as the 70-year-old Sonia hands over the baton to Rahul, the Congress is again going through difficult times. Not only does it have the lowest ever representation in the Lok Sabha, the party is also ruling just six states – Karnataka, Punjab, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry.
Rahul has long had the reputation of a reluctant leader, though some analysts say he has displayed greater political acumen since the 2014 election defeat.
A good show in Gujarat, where he is leading an aggressive campaign and has attempted a broad coalition of disparate caste groups, will not only give him a good start but also silence his detractors within the party.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state votes on December 9 and 14.
Next year, too, will test him. Retaining Karnataka and dethroning the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will be a daunting task for him and the party before the big one – the 2019 general elections.
The Congress’ national fortunes hinge on its revival in states but intense infighting coupled with indecisiveness to address the leadership issues is coming in the way of the revival push.
The party desperately needs to get its house in order in key states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and West Bengal, where it has ceded political space to rivals.
Reconnecting with the middle class, youth and common people who over the years have grown distant from the Congress has been on Gandhi’s agenda for a long time.
He has less than two years to make the Congress fighting fit to corner the Bjp-led NDA government on critical issues and present it as in effective alternative.
With around 16 months left for the next Lok Sabha elections, he will have to decide on alliances partners to prevent a division of the opposition vote that could help the BJP.
Stitching up alliances perhaps is his second biggest challenge after reviving the party.
Sonia, who turns 71 on December 9, enjoys a good rapport with other opposition parties.
Crediting her with bringing together the United Progressive Alliance, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury described Sonia as the “glue” that bound the Congress as well as secular allies.
Rahul will have to be the Congress president, the “glue” and more.