Rahul Gandhi’s appointment as an AICC general secretary has visibly enthused Congress workers who believe that his taking charge of the Youth Congress and the NSUI would attract more and more younger people to the party. But how do senior leaders of the party view the appointment? Devendra Dwivedi, permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee and senior leader from Uttar Pradesh, offers a perspective to Utpal Borpujari of Deccan Herald.

Excerpts:

Utpal Bojpuri: How do you analyse the appointment of Rahul Gandhi as an AICC general secretary at this juncture when there is a lot of political uncertainty in the country?

Devendra Dwivedi: We have to see the appointment not only in the context of this, but in the larger perspective of how the Congress party functions. Congress always goes through renewal in different phases. Congress believes in continuity with change. There is the experience of those who have seen the world with objectivity, and at the same time younger people who have a futuristic vision – so the continuity between present, past and future has been part of the Congress vision.

The Congress organisation definitely has a very important place for those who have come from the Nehru family, and their place in history and Indian democracy has been legitimised by popular endorsement. That’s why the use of the word dynasty in their context is a misnomer, because if somebody gets two-thirds majority and not once, that means they have got popular endorsement. Rahul has adopted a low profile in the past few years, making it clear that he first wants to learn things from the senior leaders. With time, his vision has evolved, and he has visited many parts of the country and the response he has got is phenomenal. Therefore, he has not been anointed a general secretary at an inappropriate time.

UB: There is a view that if he had been given the charge of some state, instead of the youth wings of the party, he would have got a better opportunity to perform.

DD: The question of delegating responsibility is with the Congress president. But I personally believe it is the right thing that has happened, because if somebody has emerged as a national leader and his appeal cuts across all barriers of caste and community, to confine him to a particular state or states just to show his organisational ability will be a completely incorrect way to look at things. He chose to confine his work to particular areas till he established his base. And linkages have to be established with the young India, what they want, what their priorities are. At one level he is trying to understand the dynamics of these things and the functioning of the party, and finally has taken up the responsibility. All this will definitely stand him in the good stead.

UB: Youth Congress and NSUI have been lying low for some time. Do you think now the situation will change?

DD: Unfortunately they have not been as functional as they had been earlier or as one would expect them to be. Therefore, this need for evolving a mechanism and quality where you can bring in more and more youth is there. Congress is a very unique party. It is the oldest party but has been led by very young people from prior to independence. When Jawaharlal Nehru assumed charge of the party, he was in his 40s, Indira Gandhi became the party president just as she was turning 40, Rajiv Gandhi too became a general secretary in his early 40s, Sonia Gandhi is not old. And now Rahul has come. So, on one hand there are veteran leaders who are managing the party affairs with their experience and on the other the party has brought in the youthful elements into the party structure. The manner in which he has gone to all senior leaders after his appointment, shows his vision as well as his humility that will help him in his life.

UB: After the NREGA scheme got extended just two days after Rahul led a party delegation to the Prime Minister, the Opposition described him as the super Prime Minister. How do you respond to that?

DD: I think that is very unfair. After all, you have to understand the relationship between the government and the ruling party in totality. Congress has been the ruling party for 45 years, and it is described a sub-system within the political system. Congress leadership has always given an ideological orientation to the policies of the country. It is not Rahul Gandhi’s lone initiative, as there has been a demand that the scheme be extended to other parts of the country. At the same time, leadership is not in a vacuum. So, on behalf of the party, he has brought to notice that the one challenge before India today is that a how can a country that is growing at a 9.5 per cent rate, can afford to let poverty continue, to allow people commit suicide. There are gaps which have to be removed. Implementation inadequacies are the reason why India is not realising its full potential. When he approaches the Prime Minister on behalf of the party, he is only trying to ensure implementation of a good idea on a larger scale.

UB: When Rahul Gandhi campaigned in Uttar Pradesh, he got huge response everywhere, but it did not get reflected in the party’s performance. How will you explain that?

DD: Only those who do not understand the dynamics of politics will expect that simply a tour by Rahul Gandhi, will be suddenly translated into votes immediately. There is a disconnect between election and democracy now. Time was when election was part of democracy, now election has become democracy. A party which may not have a proper district unit, may win because of caste equations. Society is so sharply divided and fragmented, that ideology and leadership on one hand and cast mobilisation at the time of election on the other becomes a different proposition. We cannot change the social electoral behaviour just by his presence. It will take time. Unless and until we can convince people that you do not vote by caste, things will be difficult. That is why ideological attitude, hard work will be required. We will have to focus on building democratic majority and not caste majority. That is why he told people that he will come again and again and again to them. There is a need for the organisational apparatus to work to convert the popular support to electoral support in the future.

UB His performance in Parliament quite low profile.

DD: I think that only shows his style of purpose. Instead of speaking every now and then without fully knowing a subject, his low profile shows that he has been trying to familiarise himself with the complexities of governance, and trying to learn. He believes in action more than speeches. We Indians are great orators because of our oral traditions, so we tend to believe that those who speak more will do more.