As Congress celebrated its 136th Foundation Day on Monday, suspended party leader Sanjay Jha claimed that the party’s top leadership “lacks the necessary momentum for transformation.”
In an interview with CNN-News18, Jha said that despite having sufficient political experience, Rahul Gandhi has failed to create a vision map for the party and India and “the prolonged periods of hibernation have kept many in Congress intrigued. and worried. ” Edited excerpts:
Congress needs hunger, energy and ambition, like those Indira Gandhi demonstrated after the humiliation of 1977. The current leadership lacks the necessary momentum for transformation.
2020 has been a bad year for Congress. Important state elections are approaching. Do you think the party will be able to recover next year?
Congress needs hunger, energy, and ambition, the kind Indira Gandhi demonstrated after the 1977 humiliation. The current leadership lacks the momentum of its own for transformation. Technically, Congress is heavily involved in Assam and Kerala, although there are increasing headwinds. An aggressive campaign should begin now. Tamil Nadu should be in the bag with DMK, although I think the party should be pragmatic in the division of seats and seek the victory of the alliance and not be greedy. Puducherry can be preserved. West Bengal is up in the air, but even a truncated TMC might need the support of the Left Congress if BJP gets it right. Therefore, it is up to Congress to make 2021 a year of recovery or disappear into obsolescence.
In your book you mention Rahul Gandhi as a good guy. Clearly, that is not enough.
Rahul is a good human being and has noble intentions. He has enough political experience to have created a vision map for the party and India, but he rarely articulates them. This lack of accessibility and prolonged hibernation periods have intrigued many in Congress. And worried. A leader must initiate conversations, invite criticism and feedback, and invigorate party workers. Sadly, Rahul has done them erratically. It has been inconsistent. I think his biggest problem is a clique that keeps him isolated and therefore ignorant of political realities. And like it or not, the ball stops with him.
Sonia Gandhi met with the 23 senior leaders who wrote the letter of dissent, but her main demand has yet to materialize. The question of leadership remains. Is it time for Congress to go beyond the Gandhis?
Leadership is the elephant in the room. Direct and simple. The people of India want Congress to function well, but they want new leadership. We cannot be like an ostrich in the sand permanently.
Congress celebrates its 136th founding day today, but Rahul is absent. Is this the problem with your leadership?
It is a historic day in the dazzling history of the Great Ancient Party of India. It is a momentous occasion. I can see that on Twitter people are ridiculing Rahul once again. I’m sure Rahul could have easily prevented this for no reason due to bad publicity as it hasn’t happened for the first time. You are aware of the possible consequences. In public life, perception often matters more than reality. His political brand has been flattened and that sporadic misstep will hurt him. The fact that Rahul still hasn’t taken “optics and atmosphere” seriously will hurt both him and Congress.
Priyanka was present on the founding day. Is she a better leader and a better fit for Congress? Is this the end of the road? Is there anything that can help you?
I remain convinced that, despite the current moribund state of Congress, it can be resurrected. And fast. Because fortunately the party has excellent and committed workers who are perhaps more passionate about their political fortunes than the heavyweights who live in extravagant bungalows in Lutyens Delhi. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is inherently sharp, tough like crazy, brilliant communicator, and has a friendly disposition. So far it is unfair to judge her based on UP. The party has been erased there for decades. Former President Pratibha Patil had once told me that Priyanka should lead the Mahila Congress to have a national footprint and attract women voters. It is worth considering.
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