The elevation that wasn’t, and why we care

Writing about a political outfit in decline, humbled election after election and facing probable non-existence soon, doesn’t seem fulfilling at the onset. But there’s something about the Congress, – its spectacular fall, its slick leaders, its paper tiger condescension maybe- that keeps us somewhat amused, still. Sonia Gandhi was given a one year extension as Congress president according to media reports. The first question that comes to mind is who ‘gave’ this extension. The general term period isn’t one year, there were no elections for the post and so there was nobody to give it to her. She controls the party in every way and aspect, so essentially she took it.

The question that follows is why her son and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi wasn’t elevated to the post of president. We were told it would happen in April, and then again in August and one more time in September. But with the extension of Sonia’s term, he will have to wait for at least another year. Many possible reasons for this change of heart come to mind.

The first is reluctance. Not too long ago, the impression that many had about Rahul was that he was simply not politically inclined. People believed he was being forced into something he didn’t care about particularly, because of a legacy. If some reports are to be believed he was a nine to five politician, unavailable during weekends, and often disappearing completely for short intervals. His attendance record in parliament was dismal, and he seemed too out of touch with reality. After his fifty six day sabbatical though, things have changed. He has taken a more proactive stance on issues and attempted to make serious inroads into the establishment. So at this point of time, there is no apparent reluctance from his side although we are not privy to what goes on behind the scenes.

The second reason might be untrustworthiness. After his rather insolent attitude towards politics for so long, it is possible that his mother still has her doubts about him being able to provide stability to the party. Despite a marked difference after the sabbatical, it is possible that she needs more time to be fully sure. A one year extension of her term might be a test for him. If he can continue to behave himself, remain proactive, and most importantly be there, she might consider the elevation.

The third reason might sound a little outlandish, but many thought in similar lines during his sabbatical. Many believed that it was actually a power-tussle between mother and son. Rahul apparently was unhappy about being blamed for everything that was wrong with the Congress’ electoral strategy when he had no hand in it; he demanded the organisation’s presidency and agreed to take all the criticism only after that. The outlandish reason might be that Sonia wants to hold on to power and use Rahul to those ends. He is the perfect punching bag for the old guard and the only hope for the party to connect with the youth. It is possible that she lured him back from his sabbatical dangling the presidential carrot before his eyes, only for him to come back and find out that she had been bluffing all along. If this is the case then he is in a catch twenty-two situation: going with the flow would mean no elevation and going for a sabbatical again would mean complete erosion of credibility.

The fourth reason is the exact opposite and seems to make more sense. Sonia is being overprotective of her son. She knows exactly how her lieutenants and her enemies function. She knows Rahul is incapable of dealing with these cutthroat politicians. Maybe she is also aware that she is the only reason he has been politically insulated to such an extent so far. If she gave up her power and he replaced her, they would rip him apart.

The fifth reason is that since the party has been treated as a family business for long, maybe Sonia wants her son to inherit it in a better shape and is on a guilt trip because of its present condition. It is true that she fought against all odds, played her cards well and kept the party on top for a decade; but the current mess is her creation and maybe she feels the need to clean it up. However, business picking up ever again from the present day rock bottom, looks very doubtful.

And that’s why reason six, the largely accepted reason for the postponing of this elevation, doesn’t make any sense. Most people seem to think that because of the unfavourable outcome the Congress expects in the coming elections, they want to elevate him only after the elections are over. The party is contesting 40 seats in Bihar as part of the anti-Modi block but sources on the ground believe they won’t even open their account. The states that will go to polls in the first half of 2016 are Assam, Kerala, Puducherry (union territory), Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Out of the five, they currently run governments in the first two, are the principal opposition party in the third, and their local units in the fourth and fifth are in tatters. They are expected to lose the first two, further reduce numerically in the third and remain irrelevant in the fourth and fifth. But elections in some part of India or the other keep happening every year. If the Congress’ declining trend is any indicator, they won’t win any of them, certainly not for a long time now. How long will they deprive him of the presidency on this basis? Besides, look at how secure the job of the Congress president is! One can continue to retain it despite underperformance, non-performance, and all forms of dissent. The assembly election excuse almost makes it look as if there is a level of accountability that comes with the job. We all know that’s humbug.

But do we even care about whether it is Sonia or Rahul at the helm of affairs? Do we even care about whether the family retains control of the party or whether it breaks up into fifty little groups? Most don’t. Frankly a political party no bigger than most regional parties in the lower house, soon to be cut to size in the upper, and soon to lose most if not all of its chief ministers, receives disproportionate attention. What goes on behind their closed doors doesn’t directly or indirectly affect the country any more. Most of us still observe it closely for the entertainment quotient. It’s fascinating to watch our self-proclaimed liberators, our rulers of more than half a century, decline into oblivion.