OPEN FORUM
New Delhi, 10 March 2006
Loyalty Replaces Merit
CONGRESS NOW A PARTY OF NOMINATIONS
By T.D. Jagadesan
The present day Congress bears little resemblance to the party that led
the movement for independence. It also
bears little resemblance to the party under Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi,
where there was some debate, and discussion,
and above all dissent. Of course, dissent
was frowned upon, but the leadership listened to and often accommodated in
policy decisions.
Unfortunately, dissent and debate have long ceased to be a hallmark
of the party, with the result that actions have the sanction of a chosen few,
and policy often is ill-concerned. The factionalism is so dominant within the
party to hold a true election, lest the hollowness
of the organization is exposed.
So the members of the Congress Working Committee are nominated by the party
President, and the choice necessarily
falls not on those who have mind of their own, but on those who have proved
their abject loyalty and do not have a popular base to present a challenge to
the so called High Command.
Popular Chief Ministers are just
above tolerated by the party leadership in New Delhi,
and comfort levels are restored only if they are brought to Delhi as relatively tame general secretaries,
or have bowed to the larger will through organized dissent
at some point of time.
Merit is not the consideration,
only loyalty is. Here, the genesis of
the ills afflicting the Congress.
The Prime Minister of India is not elected, but nominated by the Congress Many of the Congress President who is seen by all, including him, as
the real power. Ministers are from the Rajya Sabha, including the
all-important Home Minister.
Most of the influenced Congress leaders around the party are from the Rajya Sabha
that appears to be fast becoming “qualification” for senior posts. Rajya Sabha
MPs are dependent on their posts on the goodwill of the party, and not on the
electorate. Those who have the people
behind them are more independent and confident, as the Congress “High Command” has learnt to its chagrin. So if there is a counter view, it remains
unvoiced, with the Congress
ministers and leader looking for the smile or the frown from the top to
determine their day.
Intense factionalism is the
primary reason why the Congress
reposed all its faith once again in the Nehru-Gandhi family, looking for the
benevolent whip, to keep it united. In
the process, the individual placed
at the top with all powers becomes more important than the party, and it can
only be an exceptional person who can resist the temptation of using the
organization to further his or her own image.
This is a natural corollary of
unmitigated sycophancy, and often a disastrous fallout for the party
concerned. Loyalists are in place only so
long as they serve the purpose. Even
diehard loyalists are shown their place if they present any threat to the
reputation of the “High Command”. Public
image becomes very important, and a shadow is not allowed to fall on the
individual even if the party has to pay the price.
So a visit to the bereaved widow
of Congress leader, Asham Jafri, who
was killed by mobs in Gujarat, is called off,
as this could bring the leader under a cloud of unnecessary
controversy. Threats are perceived at
every turn of the corner. So Chief Ministers are tamed, lest they override
their authority and overshadow the Central leadership. Credit is placed at the
door of the leader, while the consequence of every unpopular action is borne by
the party or an individual within.
The image of the leader might
remain intact, but the party suffers in the long run, Coteries are built around
the leader, often wielding power while the rest of the party is marginalized.
The process of consultation becomes
selective with the larger party being kept out of the decision-making process. The result is stagnation in Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The Congress
has been unable to formulate a strategy for these states, with Narendra Modi
calling the shots in Gujarat as a paralysed
Congress looks on, completely helpless and unable to challenge his authority. The
courage to mount a strong campaign against him and the BJP is missing, with the State unit completely controlled by
the State Government through petty contracts and favours.
The Congress
is presently in power in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Haryana and Punjab on its own.
In major States like Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra,
it is in a coalition.
Fortunately for it, the BJP too
is in a complete mess. It is showing no signs of emerging from this
in the immediate future. The regional
parties, however, are gaining in strength and remain closer to the people than
the so-called national parties like the Congress
and the BJP. In States where there is a
third alternative, these parties are finding it difficult to hold their own,
with regional outfits like the Samajwadi Party, the BSP, the AIADMK and Telugu
Desam remaining a force to reckon with.
After a fairly long gap, there is
sufficient movement to indicate a tentative reaching out between the regional
leaders in an effort to form an alternative that brings them directly to power,
without the BJP or the Congress. The tragedy is that political victory is
taken as an indication of total support without any effort being put into
formulation policies that serve the interests of the poor.
The Congress
has not taken the lead in this, despite being given an opportunity by the
people, with economic policies, foreign policy, domestic policies showing
little signs of change from what was being practised by the BJP-led NDA
Government. The minorities in Gujarat have not
been rehabilitated and given justice.
Leaders are supposed to attend to
the issue with passion and commitment. Leaders are supposed to give
direction to their political parties, governments and the nation and set out an
agenda to strengthen the people. Leaders
are there to serve, not be served, to take bold and courageous decisions, to
spend their days and nights with the people in the villages and in the
conference halls of the metropolis.
To be a leader is not a lark,
based just on sacrifices made by other members of the family. Leadership requires noble qualities, a sense
of purpose, courage, compassion and
total dedication. Either you have it or you don’t---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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