Congress high command's olive branch, quelling a rebellion or mere tokenism?
India Today
Before the grand finale in 2024, the country will witness almost eleven assembly elections and the Gandhis could be looking at a towering challenge from not only their opponents in the rival camp but also from the rebels within.
On a scorching March day, a spotless white sheet was spread on the Vijay Chowk lawns. MPs of a battered Congress party gathered to protest, hoping to regain their voice and find their footing in the political landscape of the country. As they sloganeered in a bland chorus, a former UPA minister, Manish Tewari, hailing from the now “rebel camp”, called out to one of the trusted lieutenants of Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal: “His Excellency Venugopal...” Amidst all the noise came Venugopal's quick reply, “I am a foot soldier...” Thus, began an unexpected exchange of pleasantries loaded with meanings that reflected the wedges in the grand old party.
Before the grand finale in 2024, the country will witness almost eleven assembly elections and the Gandhis could be looking at a towering challenge from not only their opponents in the rival camp but also from the rebels within.
As temperatures in the national capital soared, the parliament reeled under the hangover of assembly elections, with the results amplifying the “monumental” failure of the Congress party to even put up a decent show.
“We are so demoralised, what should we do? Where should we look? There is not even a silver lining Even in the parliament, we don't know where we are headed and how we should bounce back... No one is saying anything,” a Congress MP said on condition of anonymity.
The performance has dented the position of the congress in the opposition camp as well, since it has become a butt of every joke. A more belligerent Aam Admi Party and Trinamool Congress are ready to elbow out the Congress at any given chance, while an indifferent Shiv Sena and NCP are giving the Congress a cold shoulder and the “we told you so” look.
Not far away, the atmosphere at the Congress headquarters is even more telling. Dull and deserted, the inevitability of doom writ large on the walls. However, since the past few weeks, the once all-powerful 10 Janpath has seen a regular inflow of leaders, many belonging to the so-called G23 camp.
The recent meetings are being seen as the Congress president extending an olive branch to the G23 leaders, who had upped the rhetoric even though they seem to be striking different notes.