Having disremembered what Sonia Gandhi brought for them in 2004 or for that matter what the other members of Gandhi family brought in 1985 and 1971; most of the Congress leaders seem to have formed the opinion of steering clear of the family now. Post the outcomes of the general polls of 2014, many Congressmen spoke openly about the unskillfulness of the vice-president, Rahul Gandhi. Wouldn’t it have been rewarding for this squad if they had realized the rules of dynamic leadership and worthy management as laid down by numerous intellectuals? Nobody knows for how long, however, yes for now the blind support for Gandhi family has lessened.
Yet again, the fever seems to have bounced back with the devotees like Oscar Fernandes and the spokesperson Shobha Oza announcing active role of Priyanka Gandhi in the administration of the Indian National Congress. One of the most favorite personalities of the media and of course of many wounded Congressmen post the unabashed defeat in general polls, Priyanka is looked upon as the new and unfortunately as the only hope. Though the demand of bringing Priyanka toactive politics has subsisted for a while now, with the estimableand unpredictable victory of the BJP, along with Amit Shah as the new president, tensions have crossed every border.
There can be two possibilities now. Either the leaders of Congress, who are for the time being shattered and nervous about their political career, should remember the miracle produced by Rajiv Gandhi in 1985 with over 400 Lok Sabha seats and that too at the time when all other political groups were not even considering this untried young leader in the race.Sonia in 2004 gave the Congress leaders a moment to cheer when they weren’t at all anticipating win. The legacy of the Gandhi family subsisted even prior to these incidents, for instance the crucial role of Indira Gandhi in 1971 and Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru in realizing the nerves of the Indian society.
In case the INC has honestly sensed the ache of downfall,looking beyond the Gandhi family is not completely out of the picture. Though when you remember the 2004 incident when most of the Congressmen were in tears and were almost begging for Sonia to accept the office of the PM this proposal appears quite awkward. And then you have the concern of forming consensus on names which do not carry the substantial ‘Gandhi’ surname. Another problematic fact is the superfluous reliance and conviction of the senior Congress leaders towards just the Gandhi family. If the leaders are able to overcome all these, a new avatar of Congress can be seen soon.
In between the above two conditions is the current milieu wherein disorganized and depressed Congressmen are just foreseeing future setbacks with least hopes to recover. Priyanka Gandhi is many a time paralleled with the persona of Indira Gandhi; however real competence is not yet known. And then the probable ego clash between the unaccepted brother and over-appreciated sister cannot also be overlooked. Indeed, this is a tough time for the family, leaders, and party followers. To think beyond visible prospects, to take unusual decisions, and to manage risk, one needs extraordinary will and vision. Take a lesson from the BJP as to how to rely on your wits.
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