Mrs.Sonia Gandhi is absolutely right in declaring that
failure is not permanent. Winning and losing are a part of the democratic
process and the hype attached to both is the result of the over-vocal promises
and claims made before the elections. Congress has lost heavily before and come
back with the same force. However, one cannot but concede that electoral
strategy and style were then different
and Congress fought, lost and won mainly on its own steam and reputation. It
was not a victim of vicarious taint. Therein lies the cause of the recent
decline of Congress party and the key to
future success.
I have said before that I grew up with only the
Congress party in mind and its then leaders as my heroes. However, over the
years and like many others I lost interest in parties without values and waited
for individuals to appear who respected basic ethics and principles and stood
unshakeably so.
Adherence to principles is being mentioned again in
political circles. At the present moment, the principles need re-defining for
the Congress party workers as the recent
electoral disaster was the result of Congress deviating from its sworn path of
the past. It chose to fall in line with dubious allies whose principles were
based on acquiring and retaining wealth and power by whatever means. The taint rubbd
off on the Congress too and the party with the cleanest and most incorruptible leaders like Manmohan
Singh and Antony failed to win the trust
of the electorate. In Kerala there was a comparable experience. Oommen Chandy
was known to be an honest CM but the company he kept cost the party the election.
Now what of the future ?
The eye of the Congress leadership must be NOT on
re-capturing power by any means but on re-capturing the attention of the
people, resurrecting their trust. For this the party has to go straight back to
the people way out in the “backyards” of the country which is where the daily
needs remain unfulfilled. Congress has young, articulate members, many of them
in legislatures and Parliament, who can be at the centre of new teams that will
disperse to work in designated areas to identify their tasks and have a
time-bound schedule to deal with them. The aim must be to show tangible results
by the mid-term of the various governments. The truth to remember is that power
is given by people as a token of their appreciation. Such power wil endure.
Power that is acquired by false promises and by
expedient alliances does not last. It also leaves an indelible taint. It is far better
to sit as an honourable opposition than to be in tainted power.
Young leaders must grow in States. They must build up
their teams, be allowed to think and act independently subject only to
monitoring at the top. These leaders and workers must be instilled with
principles of honour and integrity. These are qualities that are lacking in
States making India 78th in the table of 158 corrupt countries put
together by Transparency International. As regards Congress–ruled States
assessed before the election one of them
is 4th most corrupt. In this State every interface between public and
government extracts an unofficial
“toll”. Even a Panchayat
certificate for a BPL card is not issued
without payment of a tidy sum of money ! The party has to fight these
deep-rooted ills and help people get their legitimate dues.
There is work to be done to provide water, power,
housing etc in all of which the Centre has announced plans and budgets. The
Congress party workers should make sure that these allocations reach their
targets and do not leak on the way. If, by chance, in doing this the party in
power at the centre and Congress happen to find themselves together there is no
need for conflict. People will bless both and the judgement will finally be
made on the basis of the quality and reach of the service provided by the
parties. It may even lead to a very desirable interaction between government
and opposition and generate a cooperative spirit which transcends party and
personal interests to focus on the nation. I cannot wait to see that happen !
I repeat –devolution is the answer and there is no
alternative to local influence in matters to do with States. Local teams and
leadership should grow to take responsibility and be accountable. I would tell
all parties that acquiring power by serving people should be the practical route and
not just a motivation for decibels.
I have recited my piece honestly and full of hope. My
suggestions may sound like pipe-dreams but they are imperative. Nothing would
give thr peoplr greater fulfillment than
to see a strong government and an active
opposition functioning with the sole aim of national advancement. The
question is which of BJP and Congress will have the courage to shed personal animosities and take the first step forward ?
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