After facing a series of defeats, the Congress party seems to be in big trouble as many important members are leaving one after the other just before the big 2024 Lok Sabha elections. For example, Ashok Chavan, a former Congress chief minister in Maharashtra, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). There’s talk that Kamal Nath, former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, might also switch to the BJP, ending his long association with the Congress.
The decline of the Indian National Congress (INC) is seen as a big blow to a healthy democracy. Experts say a strong opposition is crucial for democracy, and after the BJP, only Congress represents the whole country nationally.
Reasons Behind Leader Departures from Congress
Amid the talk of Kamal Nath leaving the Congress, let’s look at why leaders are leaving the party one after the other. The party’s old-fashioned approach is not changing, even though it’s facing continuous losses in elections. Experts think both young and senior leaders are tired of the party’s focus on just one family. They believe loyalty to the family matters more than loyalty to the party.
A former party member said that Congress treats its workers like an army, with the Gandhi family as leaders. Only a few top leaders get attention, and others have to follow them closely to succeed in the party.
Some people think Congress is only trying to please minorities for votes, which has given it a reputation as a party that ignores Hindu interests. By skipping events like the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Congress has been seen as anti-Hindu. This, along with other actions, has upset many Hindus.
Criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s Leadership Style
One party leader criticized Rahul Gandhi’s approach, stating that his immature behavior towards party workers and leaders has led to dissatisfaction among many. Additionally, Gandhi’s controversial statements on various national issues, including those made on foreign soil, have angered party members. Several young leaders suggested that the party should support government actions on sensitive issues like surgical strikes, but the top leadership’s reluctance has fueled dissatisfaction.
Leadership Inaccessibility and Lack of Feedback
A senior journalist highlighted that national party leaders and state officials are inaccessible to workers and the public. They prefer maintaining a “special person” status within the party, fearing a loss of importance if they become accessible. Moreover, there’s a lack of free feedback from workers and the public, with officials relying on professional agencies instead.
Loss of Confidence in Party Leadership
As the 2024 political battle looms closer, Congress leaders seem to have lost faith in their party’s ability to compete against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With consecutive losses in the Lok Sabha elections, the party appears reluctant to fully engage in the upcoming contest. Party leaders express concern that the top leadership is not adequately focused on preparing for the elections.
Criticism of Party’s Indifference
Many party leaders have repeatedly criticized the leadership for its indifferent behavior. Several prominent leaders have even switched to the BJP after feeling marginalized by the party. This dissatisfaction has led party leaders to prioritize discussions on persuading dissatisfied members rather than focusing on election strategies.
Neglect of ‘Seva Dal’ Centennial
Despite the significant milestone of completing 100 years, the Congress party’s top leadership showed no interest in commemorating the occasion with an event.
Congress leaders are pointing fingers at their own party leadership for causing divisions within the INDIA Alliance, a coalition that had sparked optimism within the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The delay in initiating the proposed joint campaign in Bhopal and the postponement of seat-sharing decisions in various states are cited as reasons for several major regional parties leaving the alliance.
