Lok Sabha 2024: Blowin’ In the Wind For Congress

New Delhi: Congress veteran Kamal Nath hogged helines with his actions in what looked like a script straight from 1994 Bollywood romance ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na (KHKN)’ also completed three deces after its release last week. Like in case of Juhi Chawla (for Shahrukh Khan), re was no reason for Nath to eir say a yes or no to Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). Like Juhi in KHKN, Nath too thought keeping suspense was entire script. But n I am drifting!

Nath, of course, folded script without an answer to question ‘Why this gold rush for BJP?’ answer came, in fact, from a lesser-known Congressman, albeit of equal vintage, Naranbhai Rathwa in neighbouring Gujarat. A five-time Congress MP from Chotaudepur Lok Sabha seat, and sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Rathwa was Minister of State for Railways in UPA-I era. What he said while quitting Congress and joining BJP is telling of times Grand Old Party is going through. He said he h nothing to be unhappy about with Congress, just that those partymen on whose shoulders he stood as a leer in his constituency, most have crossed over to BJP. “Sixty per cent of Congress workers have left. Those left also feel vantages of joining BJP. What would I have done,” he told media at State BJP hequarters in Gandhinagar.  

Rathwa joined ruling party with his son Sangram, a young municipal leer in Rathwa senior constituency. What was left unsaid in Rathwa soundbites was motive of self-preservation guiding his action, especially his son's political future. Now replace Rathwas with Naths for far-son duo, and you get picture of Congress doldrums on ground. Simply put, BJP's organizational juggernaut is too much to handle even for most battle-hardened Congress leers. From Naths to Rathwas, from Ashok Chavan to Jyotiritya Scindia to innumerable ors from Congress fold, ‘If you can’t beat m, join m’, is age that seems to be guiding force.

But more telling on Congress’ organizational atrophy was Naran Rathwa’s comment on Rahul Gandhi’s ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, set to cross Gujarat in a week. “If objective of Rahul Gandhi is to reach out to tribal voters, purpose won’t be served as re is no cre left on ground to communicate or participate in yatra. organization simply does not exist anymore.” unflattering pictures of Rahul Gandhi trudging an almost lonely furrow through his yatra have been telling of a missing organization.  

Rajya Sabha election fiasco of Himachal Presh is yet anor example of complete disconnect between leership and organization machine y le. What explains pauperised thinking of releasing Sonia Gandhi’s thank you note to Rae Bareli voters same day that Rahul’s yatra enters Uttar Presh?

A few days ago, I tried an experiment on air. Inste of getting usual talking hes from each political party, I just got a third rung of Congress leers to discuss ir party. I thought with nobody to attack m or ir party, y would open up about what ails grand old party. I expected that y would speak about some aspects of organization that make Congress so redundant heing into general elections. But experiment failed of course. y remained defensive and nothing came out of it. principal opposition party is completely psyched out by BJP. One of reasons why 2024 is a done deal!