Congress: Change needed at the bottom than at the top

mangaloretoday network

New Delhi, May 28, 2019 : Election verdict analysis is a difficult exercise as victors inevitably get painted in agreeable colours while the losers are pushed under harsh light. Now that the Congress has lost the elections so miserably, it is rather easy to be critical of Rahul Gandhi, and a tad facile to point that out ‘Nyay’, ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’, and the Rafale allegations all did not cut ice with the public, Yahoo news reported.

 

Congress party President Rahul Gandhi attends a Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 25, 2019. The BJP’s top rival, led by Gandhi, won 52 seats out of 542 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, after the official vote count finished Friday.

But could Rahul have done anything different in his campaign? Let us be honest: his campaign ideas did not seem all that wrong at that time. The focus on the economy by the Congress as a campaign plank cannot be faulted, as it was common sense. The economy, when compared to 2014, is in bad shape, and the employment figures are worrying.

That people voted overwhelmingly in favour of the BJP despite these factors staring them in the faces is an altogether a different point. The people have their reasons. It is tough to rationalise or make sense of the choice of the electorate that is disparate and different in myriad ways.

It is indeed to the BJP’s credit that it played it smartly as a Modi vs Rahul campaign. Modi as an orator and a public performer is miles ahead of Rahul. On that score alone, it is like a match between Barcelona FC vs Sesa Goa.

As an administrator, Rahul is a novice. Modi’s record as the Prime Minister is a bit patchy. Even his staunchest followers would agree that his first 5 years were not exactly what they had hoped he would deliver.

So, in general, people seem to have voted in terms of their perceptions of the two contestants. But how could Rahul have changed their perceptions? Or what should he have done to alter their opinions? Again, there are no easy answers. Rahul, by all accounts, looked earnest and enthusiastic. He kept things, for the most part, neat and clean. Many journalists, who are now asking for his resignation as the Congress chief, were the ones who claimed that Rahul looked more assertive and sure of himself in this election.

Elections 2019: When ‘Rahul Speak’ Fell on Deaf Ears

Of course, defeat will bring in its wake unpalatable questions. But criticism has to be fair and reasonable. The Congress’ failure may not have been in terms of strategy but execution. This points to organisational issues. The party needs more grassroots workers and booth-level agents to provide what marketers would call ‘last-mile delivery’. It is here the Congress was found wanting.

The party’s state units would do well with a thorough overhaul. It is not as if Rahul is indispensable. But the need for cleaning at the lower end is more urgent than at the top