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State of Congress: a party cut off from society, preoccupied with leadership

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7 years ago

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State of Congress: a party cut off from society, preoccupied with leadership

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Rajesh Sinha

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today to discuss the party’s second successive humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha elections went along expected lines.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi offered to step down from his position. CWC rejected it unanimously.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the CWC has given its party chief Rahul Gandhi the right to make changes to restructure the party. He said that a plan for this will be brought soon.

The meeting was attended by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, chief ministers of party-ruled states and other top leaders from across the country. Congress won just 52 seats in the 542-member lower house, up from 44 seats it had secured in its worst-ever performance in the 2014 general elections.

Rahul Gandhi, according to media reports, is adamant at quitting his post and has also told party leaders not to choose his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to replace him. The unsaid part is the intention to counter the criticism of the party belonging to the ‘dynasty’.

The deliberations of the Congress always go along the same lines with similar decisions. It is a classic example of “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. It may not be insanity, as the quote, widely attributed to Albert Einstein, defines it, but it certainly depicts loss of organisational memory, lack of imagination, and laziness of thought translated into lack of action on the ground.

A day earlier, media reports said there have been voices within to introspect on why the party failed to reach out to the people. The Congress’s unprecedented slide has raised questions about both its future and the role of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which led the party through some of its most glorious days, said reports.

The most crucial aspect that needs to be fixed is missing in all the deliberations the party has held.

The party badly needs to put its organisation in order (or, as some would say, ‘build an organisation’ to begin with), work out a clear stand on social and political issues, and establish a connect with the people.

The BJP is the only party that engages with society in its political work which is complemented by its associated outfits in the RSS fraternity. They run schools, they organise functions, yatras, celebrate festivals, et al. Congress leaders hold only iftar parties, at the most.

The party needs to be in touch with what is happening in society – ‘feel its pulse’, so to say. This is sorely missing. The Congress does not only lack a social agenda to guide and lead the people, it is out of touch with them.

During Narendra Modi government first term, NDA-II, there were several occasions when different sections of people in different parts of the country held strong protest rallies and marches. All that energy went waste without Congress or any other opposition party tapping into it. Where was the Congress when people were getting lynched and ‘gaurakshaks’ were on rampage? What did it do when JNU students and the institution itself was targeted? Where was it when farmers protests – the strongest in decades – happened, and happened repeatedly? What did it do to organise or mobilise the lakhs of students and unemployed youth?

The Congress was unaware of their resentment till it was out in the open. The party didn’t have a clue any such issue existed. When the protests happened, the Congress issued statements expressing its support. But the party was never seen with the people, working on the ground. The support was confined to press conferences.

Congress spokespersons would issue a statement and the job was considered done. Sometimes, to express stronger support, the statement would come from Rahul Gandhi himself. That was the highest level of engagement with people and social issues.

This was not always the case with Congress. Congress workers would take out ‘prabhatpheris’ in which they would go out and meet/contact people in morning walks, hold ‘chaupal’ in villages and talk about social issues, social reform or politics. That was about three decades ago: a long long time.Now they are not to be seen anywhere. What stops the Congress from running schools and hospitals, theatre programmes, promoting artists, sportspersons, centres of wings to help resolve people’s problems? Just lack of imagination and thought.

The Congressalso needs to give up its reliance only on a leader at the top to build its political capital. In fact, from the time of Indira Gandhi onwards, the party has relied exclusively on a top leader to get votes. Everything is top-down.

This was brought out hilariously in an interview of Congress leader and Madhya Pradesh chief minister in The Indian Express:

“Q. To what do you attribute the rout the Congress suffered in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. An assessment will be made…I have not been in touch with Delhi yet.”

A state’s chief minister needs the party’s central leadership to tell him what went wrong, or approve his assessment.

This needs to change, and it has to go to the bottom of the party – even if this change is also ordered from the top.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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BJP hits back at opposition over EC row, says disagreement is democracy

The BJP has defended reported differences among Election Commissioners, saying internal deliberations are part of a healthy democratic process.

Published

9 hours ago

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September 23, 2026

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The BJP has defended the Election Commission amid a political row over reported differences among Election Commissioners concerning decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

BJP MP Sambit Patra said discussions and exchanges of views within the poll panel should be seen as part of the democratic process rather than as evidence of institutional dysfunction.

According to the BJP’s position, disagreement during official deliberations reflects the fact that members of an institution are able to put forward their views before decisions are taken.

BJP defends EC deliberations

Patra said that if the three Election Commissioners discuss and debate issues among themselves, such exchanges should not be characterised as dictatorship. He described such deliberations as a sign of a healthy democracy.

The BJP’s response came amid reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on multiple occasions over decisions and orders associated with the SIR exercise and electoral rolls.

The Election Commission has said that differences in views and observations are a normal part of deliberations within an institution. It has maintained that decisions, including those related to SIR, were taken unanimously.

Row centres on SIR process

The controversy comes against the backdrop of the ongoing political debate over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Opposition parties have raised concerns over the reported differences within the poll panel, while the BJP has sought to counter those arguments by pointing to the role of discussion and deliberation in institutional decision-making.

Patra also said the BJP’s understanding of the matter was based on media reports rather than access to the Election Commission’s internal documents. He said the documents, as reported, indicated that the SIR process was finalised after democratic deliberations and consensus.

What the Election Commission has said

The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that the reported objections indicate a breakdown in its functioning.

It has maintained that differing opinions during deliberations are part of normal institutional functioning and that the decisions eventually taken by the commission were unanimous.

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Asaduddin Owaisi offers Opposition alliance in UP, sets October 2 deadline

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi offered an alliance to Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly election and set October 2 as a deadline for a response.

Published

2 days ago

on

September 21, 2026

By

Asaduddin Owaisi

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has offered to join hands with Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, saying his party is willing to work with those seeking to prevent the BJP from returning to power in the state.

Speaking at a public rally in Kanpur, Owaisi said the AIMIM would wait until October 2 for a response from Opposition parties before announcing any possible political alliance.

At the rally held at the Babupurwa Idgah ground in Kanpur’s cantonment area, Owaisi said the AIMIM did not want the BJP to form the government in Uttar Pradesh for a third time.

He invited parties seeking to prevent the BJP from returning to power to join hands with the AIMIM.

Owaisi targets Samajwadi Party

While making the alliance offer, Owaisi also criticised the Samajwadi Party and its chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Referring to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, Owaisi questioned the record of the Samajwadi Party government during that period. He said around 50,000 people were displaced from their homes and villages during the riots.

Owaisi also alleged that political parties, including the Samajwadi Party, had failed to adequately address the social, economic and educational concerns of Muslims and had not provided sufficient political representation.

He said Muslims in Uttar Pradesh needed a political voice and urged voters to strengthen the AIMIM’s presence in the state Assembly.

AIMIM’s earlier alliance offer in Bihar

Owaisi also referred to the AIMIM’s earlier alliance proposal in Bihar ahead of the Assembly polls.

According to Owaisi, his party had offered to contest six seats as part of an alliance, but the proposal was not accepted. He alleged that “false allegations” were subsequently made against the AIMIM.

Opposition parties have previously accused Owaisi and the AIMIM of benefiting the BJP by dividing Muslim votes. Owaisi has rejected those allegations and has accused Opposition parties of fielding candidates who are unacceptable to minorities.

The latest alliance proposal comes ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, with Owaisi setting October 2 as the date by which he expects a response from Opposition parties.

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AAP takes Punjab report card door-to-door after BJP’s anti-drug yatra

AAP has taken its Punjab government report card door-to-door as the BJP conducts a statewide anti-drug yatra ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.

Published

2 days ago

on

September 21, 2026

By

Bhagwant Mann

The Aam Aadmi Party has taken its Punjab government report card directly to households as the BJP steps up its statewide campaign against drugs ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann began the door-to-door outreach from Dhuri, his Assembly constituency.

The move comes after the BJP launched its “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra”, which is focused on the drug menace, law and order and corruption. The BJP’s yatra is planned to cover all 117 Assembly constituencies before concluding in Jalandhar.

AAP is using its “Yudh Nashean Virudh” campaign and the Mann government’s wider governance record as the focus of its grassroots outreach.

AAP’s anti-drug strategy

The Punjab government is highlighting a five-point approach covering police enforcement, prevention in schools, youth engagement, community vigilance and rehabilitation.

According to government figures cited in the report, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force registered 61,824 FIRs and arrested 81,433 people between March 2025 and September 2026.

The government said the seizures during this period included 3,918 kg of heroin, 991 kg of opium, 47 tonnes of poppy husk, 1,416 kg of ganja and 65 lakh tablets and capsules.

In schools, a 14-week anti-drug curriculum is being taught to around 7.5 lakh students across 3,600 schools. The government is also promoting sports, cultural activities, mental-health clubs and other youth programmes.

Village vigilance and rehabilitation

The government said around 1.25 lakh people have joined nearly 15,000 Village and Ward Defence Committees.

It also said more than 51,000 citizen tip-offs received through the Safe Punjab WhatsApp Helpline have contributed to over 25,000 drug-related arrests.

On treatment, Punjab currently has 547 OOAT (Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment) centres, 219 de-addiction centres and 91 rehabilitation centres, according to the figures cited by the government.

Admissions to government de-addiction and rehabilitation centres rose from more than 12,200 in 2024 to nearly 34,000 in 2025, the report said.

BJP’s anti-drug campaign

The BJP’s “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra” has placed the drug issue at the centre of its political outreach in the state. The campaign is also raising concerns related to law and order and corruption and is planned across all 117 Assembly constituencies.

AAP’s response is to take its own record directly to voters, with the party highlighting action against drugs alongside welfare and development initiatives.

The door-to-door campaign comes as political parties begin intensifying their grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election.

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