<p>The Congress party has been here before and seen it all and shrugged it off in the past. When it faced electoral collapses in the past, it has gone through the motions of stock-taking, as it is doing now, and seen the leader accepting responsibility but being persuaded to continue “in the interest of the party’’. The same drama is being re-enacted now, without the characters being aware of the increasingly tragic turn the script is taking. Rahul Gandhi has offered to resign as the president of the party, taking responsibility for its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. He should quit, and the party should elect a new leader through normal democratic processes which the party has not seen and known for decades. The main reason for the decline of the Congress over the years and its present crisis is the democratic deficit within the party. </p>.<p>Congressmen think that only the Gandhi family can hold the party together and they are afraid to face politics without the protective shield of the family. But they should realise that family legacy is a liability, and it makes the party vulnerable in a world where parties and politics are changing. In fact, many of the Congressmen who are in key positions in the party are themselves dynasts. It needs democratic restructuring from the bottom to the top, and talent and commitment should be found, tested and rewarded democratically through intra-party elections. This will be a painful process for the party but unless it is ready to go through it, it will be in a deeper crisis next time. Rahul’s resignation should lead to the election of a new leader in an election in which no member of the Nehru-Gandhi family or a loyalist should be a contestant. A long holiday, at the least, for the family will be good for the health of the party. </p>.<p>Rahul Gandhi evolved and developed through years and he may have tried his best, but his best was not enough to cope with the challenge posed by Narendra Modi. The Congress must look for the reasons for its defeat more within itself than in Modi and the BJP. It must strive to become a modern and democratic party with a dynamic organisation, accountable leadership and a clearly articulated message and ideology. It needs some fresh air to cleanse itself and should learn new ways of holding the party together and communicating with the people other than through the appeal of family names. Let the family move away and see how the party looks and works. Rahul Gandhi is reported to be firm on resigning, and that’s good for the party. He should stick to his word and resolve. </p>
<p>The Congress party has been here before and seen it all and shrugged it off in the past. When it faced electoral collapses in the past, it has gone through the motions of stock-taking, as it is doing now, and seen the leader accepting responsibility but being persuaded to continue “in the interest of the party’’. The same drama is being re-enacted now, without the characters being aware of the increasingly tragic turn the script is taking. Rahul Gandhi has offered to resign as the president of the party, taking responsibility for its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. He should quit, and the party should elect a new leader through normal democratic processes which the party has not seen and known for decades. The main reason for the decline of the Congress over the years and its present crisis is the democratic deficit within the party. </p>.<p>Congressmen think that only the Gandhi family can hold the party together and they are afraid to face politics without the protective shield of the family. But they should realise that family legacy is a liability, and it makes the party vulnerable in a world where parties and politics are changing. In fact, many of the Congressmen who are in key positions in the party are themselves dynasts. It needs democratic restructuring from the bottom to the top, and talent and commitment should be found, tested and rewarded democratically through intra-party elections. This will be a painful process for the party but unless it is ready to go through it, it will be in a deeper crisis next time. Rahul’s resignation should lead to the election of a new leader in an election in which no member of the Nehru-Gandhi family or a loyalist should be a contestant. A long holiday, at the least, for the family will be good for the health of the party. </p>.<p>Rahul Gandhi evolved and developed through years and he may have tried his best, but his best was not enough to cope with the challenge posed by Narendra Modi. The Congress must look for the reasons for its defeat more within itself than in Modi and the BJP. It must strive to become a modern and democratic party with a dynamic organisation, accountable leadership and a clearly articulated message and ideology. It needs some fresh air to cleanse itself and should learn new ways of holding the party together and communicating with the people other than through the appeal of family names. Let the family move away and see how the party looks and works. Rahul Gandhi is reported to be firm on resigning, and that’s good for the party. He should stick to his word and resolve. </p>
