Wind Is Back in the Sails of India’s Congress Party – The Diplomat

At a press convention in New Delhi earlier this week, the opposition Congress celebration’s media spokesperson Pawan Khera described Prime Minister Narendra Modi because the “Congress celebration’s star campaigner.” Khera identified how Modi, in his current 55-minute speech in election-bound Madhya Pradesh, “talked about Congress 44 occasions!” The Congress celebration’s victories within the states of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, Khera stated, show that wherever Modi campaigned intensively, it benefitted the Congress.

There’s a new-found aggression within the Congress celebration — a far cry from its scenario over the previous decade when it has resembled a rudderless ship stumbling from one ballot debacle to a different.

Elections to 5 state assemblies are upcoming, and the Congress appears to be extra battle-ready than it has ever been prior to now 10 years.

Former celebration President Rahul Gandhi exuded confidence in a Congress victory within the upcoming meeting elections. “We’re definitely profitable Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan we’re very shut. We’re most likely profitable Telangana,” Gandhi stated at a media conclave this week.

For a celebration that was dismissed as a spent pressure, with Modi urging voters to make sure there’s a “Congress-mukt Bharat” (a Congress-free India), this can be a important turnaround.

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In contrast to its lackadaisical perspective within the run-up to the 2019 normal elections, the Congress has already began charting out a transparent street map for the 2024 polls slated for April-Might subsequent yr.

On the essential Congress Working Committee (CWC) assembly in Hyderabad earlier this month, the celebration in its official decision highlighted the erosion of democratic establishments within the nation and resolved to do every thing to oust the BJP in 2024. It resolved to combat the elections unitedly with different opposition events as a part of the INDIA alliance “to free the nation from [the BJP’s] divisive politics.”

A important position within the Congress’ resurgence belongs to 81-year-old Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge completes a yr because the celebration’s president subsequent month. In an earlier article, I wrote concerning the a number of challenges that Kharge confronted because the Congress president, together with the celebration’s existential disaster and deep-seated factionalism. Up to now, he has risen to the problem.

The octogenarian’s administrative acumen has been severely examined prior to now few months. He managed to dealer a truce in poll-bound Rajasthan between incumbent Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the younger challenger Sachin Pilot.

A senior Congress chief, who didn’t need to be named, informed The Diplomat that “Kharge has managed to deal with the apprehensions of each, the ‘previous guard’ and the aspirations of the ‘younger weapons.’ He has managed the generational shift throughout the celebration, with the least resistance.”

Kharge’s imprint on the celebration may be seen within the newly-appointed members of the CWC. Younger and previous leaders have discovered a spot within the committee.

A number of disgruntled Congress seniors, who had been a part of the insurgent G23 (Group of 23), have been included within the CWC. Pilot, whose feud with Gehlot has been taking part in out within the open, has been placated with CWC membership. Even diplomat-turned-politician Shashi Tharoor, who contested towards Kharge for the submit of celebration president, has been included within the CWC.

Considerably, since Kharge took over the reins, the Congress has gained two main state meeting elections; it ousted the BJP from Himachal Pradesh within the north and Karnataka within the south.

With the problem of the long-pending “management vacuum” within the celebration being settled, there seems to be a way of goal and aggressiveness within the Congress rank and file. Most significantly, the skilled Kharge and the youthful Rahul Gandhi share an excellent working relationship. This was evident throughout Gandhi’s lengthy march, the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Kharge ably supported Gandhi’s countrywide march, which helped to reconnect the general public with the Congress in addition to enthuse celebration cadres.

What the Congress has additionally realized is the necessity to provide an “various narrative” that appeals to voters and never merely resort to BJP bashing if it intends to defeat the BJP in 2024.

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Over the previous ten years, the Congress has been grappling with tips on how to counter the BJP’s championing of Hindu majoritarianism. The BJP’s overwhelming victories within the 2014 and 2019 normal elections may be attributed to its consolidation of Hindu votes.

Of late, the Congress has began championing the reason for Different Backward Courses (OBC) voters, who represent a hefty 42 % of inhabitants, as a counterweight to the BJP’s Hindu mobilization.

OBCs are constitutionally acknowledged as socially and economically backward teams. The Congress is demanding sufficient illustration for OBCs in governance.

The potential of unseating the BJP by denting its Hindutva vote financial institution has put the wind again within the Congress’ sails.

By the way, a number of of the main constituents of the INDIA alliance — the Samajwadi Social gathering, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal-United, and the Dravida Munetra Kazhagam — are events that champion OBC empowerment.

Subsequently, throughout the current particular session of Parliament, when the BJP sprung a shock on the opposition by bringing within the Girls Reservation Invoice, the Congress and different INDIA bloc events prolonged assist to the invoice but additionally demanded a separate quota for OBC girls.

The invoice was “incomplete” with out OBC reservation, Gandhi stated. The invoice gives for the reservation of 33 % of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for girls. In his speech in Parliament, Gandhi demanded a caste census that would supply a extra correct estimation of the numbers of varied caste teams to make sure extra equitable social justice.

It’s turning into evident that the BJP’s politics of polarization and jingoistic nationalism have considerably misplaced their sheen. However can the Congress and the INDIA bloc money in on it and dislodge the well-entrenched BJP?

A lot will rely on the outcomes of the 5 states going to elections by the tip of the yr, which might be a definitive curtain raiser, indicating the heart beat of the citizens within the run-up to 2024.