Amidst the trading of accusations and counter-accusations in this city, an endemic pastime, the flowers are blooming and spring is here for a short while before the blazing summer heat sets in. With the change of season will come the elections and by May the 13th, we will know who will be in power for the next five years. Till then the same rhetoric will continue, vast amounts of money will flow and promises will be made, many to be broken.
The present generation of Indians, those under 30 years, 60 per cent of them, do not seem to have a leader of their age who will influence and represent their future and that of India. The wavelength has changed but the leadership has remained the same. If you drive into states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, you will find there is absolutely no presence of the Congress ? no banners, no hoardings or maybe just three or four, no nothing.
In contrast, the BJP network is everywhere as it should be. Clearly, they have a strategy and a methodology and are doing what they have set out to do. The perception therefore is that the Congress has given up, thrown its hands up in despair and handed the stage over to the BJP. A perception of impending defeat well before the polls. Doing nothing to compete for public space in the political arena just before an election is absurd, to say the least. Small reason to sit in committee day upon day…no election is won that way.
And, if the Congress has decided not to go for the kill and believe they would rather wait for another five years, the less said about that position, the better. It is imperative to go for the jugular now, to fight real hard with all that they have, to establish their presence as a party coming back into play even if they lose the final count this time round. Instead, the impression permeating the space is that the Congress is quite happy with their few numbers in Parliament, having abdicated their space willingly with no responsibility whatsoever. In normal parlance this attitude spells defeat.
The BJP on the other hand is gung ho. They behave as though they are alone in power and that they have already won the elections. They exude confidence and appear deft and able in establishing their presence in whatever space they find is lying vacant and abdicated. They waste no time and if they too are in perpetual meetings, they give the impression that they are out there in the field fighting to win.
Some weeks ago the Congress launched their yuva netas across the country. Great idea, if only to show that there is a vital and energetic group of young politicians in the party. These men and women were sent to various states to energise the local karyakartas. They talked with block level workers, held local press conferences, and assessed the ground realities. They too were motivated and inspired. But true to style, this scheme got scuttled in the second week, was put on hold because, it is believed, those in Delhi who are cut off from the truths felt threatened! So typical. Now, this unusual strategy has melted away when it is needed the most.
Talking about the Congress presence…the only presence that you can feel and sense is that of Sonia Gandhi. She is constantly on the move combing districts in different states, meeting constituents. She comes across as energised, upbeat and in fighting form. Juxtaposed to her are the many others who appear more like wimps than political players. Are they just stumped that the reticent leader they thought she was is emerging as a fighter? Are they trying to sabotage her potential, her future? What are they up to? What is their strategy? Why are they expressing and spreading such utter confusion?
If those who have crossed the age of 50 are confused and despondent, walking into the trap of defeat, they should be left in the committee rooms of 24 Akbar Road. Maybe the yuva netas should be brought out to campaign alongside Sonia Gandhi. There will be new ideas emerging, different approaches, a changed attitude, energy, and the fighting spirit will take over.
That in itself will showcase the young, fresh and hitherto unknown avatar of the oldest political party. It may rescue the Congress from impending failure that could overwhelm it by the mere fact that it is neither seen nor heard except for its leader. Party functionaries seem to be busy preparing a walkover for the BJP and the other regional parties across India. Post election, in May 2004, you may well find the BJP and Others doing a nationwide dhanyawad yatra for the Congress Party!