Omkar Dattatray
The unprecedented desertions are unfortunately taking place in congress, the grand old political party of the country. Day in and day out various leaders of Congress are leaving the party to join other political outfits perhaps for greener pastures. These desertions are a cause of concern for congress and its leadership. The Indian national congress top leadership should introspect and make self analysis and find out the cause of the desertions which plague the party. The congress leadership is unable to stop the phenomena of the desertions in party. Earlier Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was a big leader of Congress, left the party and joined BJP. Many big and small leaders have also deserted the congress in the past and have joined other political parties especially BJP. These desertions have weakened the party and brought havoc to congress. Recently many leaders of substance have left the congress and joined BJP just before the state assembly elections. The desertion of R P N Singh who was a big wing of congress and was a union minister in UPA Government of Manmohan Singh is a big jolt to congress party just before the assembly elections in UP. He along with two other leaders of the congress have deserted the party and joined BJP. However all these politicians have asserted that they have been influenced by policies of BJP and the style of the functioning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and have thus joined BJP to serve the cause of nationalism. These leaders also alleged that the congress of today is not the congress of yore and the congress in which they were working and the congress which has fought for the country’s freedom. R P N Singh has also said that he has joined BJP because of its nationalistic character and has joined BJP without any pre-conditions but only for the service to the national cause. Whatever it is but the spree of desertions is a very disturbing development for the congress which has ruled the country for a pretty long time. But today the congress party is in doldrums and it is a sinking ship and its big and small leaders are leaving the party and joining BJP as they see their future safe in this party. It is very unfortunate that RPN Singh has quitted the congress, who was Incharge of party in poll-bound UP. Many political pundits opine that the desertion of RPN Singh is the last nail in the coffin of Congress and this is a matter of serious concern for the congress and needs serious introspection. It is becoming crystal clear that congress has turned into a sinking ship and its many leaders are leaving the drowning ship for self protection. There is some truth in this assertion of the political pundits. Besides this it is also true that the congress of today is not same as the congress of the yester years when it was considered as the party which has fought for the freedom of the country from British. But desertions in congress are serious matter for congress leadership and self introspection and self analysis should be conducted by the top leadership of the party for finding the causes of the desertions in the party. It is also a matter of serious concern that the poster girl of Congress Priyanka Moria who was spearheading Priyanka Wadhra’s movement of Ladki Hu Ladsakti Hu has also deserted congress and has joined the BJP. She has alleged that there is no respect for the women in congress and the assertions of the congress are false so for as they relate to the congresses so called movement for the girls. Congress has become a party of empty promises and shallow and hallow slogans and the people of the country are least interested in the congress rhetoric and therefore are distancing themselves from the congress and its policies. There is no denying the fact that the congress has become a party which believes in Hindu bashing and Hindutva and Hindusim is an eyesore for the congress of today. If congress wants political space in the country it should strive to shun its anti-Hindu and pro-minority image and should desist from minority appeasement to be able to have a place of pride which the party enjoined just after the independence. But for this happens, congress leadership has to work very hard and shed pro-minority and anti Hindu-image. However it is not so easy and for this the congress has to introspect and take necessary steps to regain its past glory so that it once again becomes a party of the common masses. But for this congress has to see unto its sleeves and resurrect the party so that it becomes a party with a difference and distinct ideology which it was just after the independence. Today congress has become a part of differences and many congress leaders are deserting the party and joining other political parties especially the BJP just for their safe political careers. Thus the phenomena of desertions has rocked Congress party and it has damaged its future political prospects and therefore if the congress leaders sincerely want the redemption of the party, its top leadership should take all necessary steps in the direction of making congress a force to reckon with. But for this congress leadership needs to work hard and make introspection and self analysis and work for making congress a mass based political force which it has lost for last few decades. Therefore congress should clean its stable from the inconsequential leaders and make room for the dedicated leaders who are influenced by the congress ideology and thinking. Thus the congress should start its pruning and make room for the dedicated politicians and statesmen in the party so that it once again becomes a party with a mass base. But for this the congress needs to work hard and work with dedication so that once flourishing party once again becomes a political party of a substance and mass base and mass appeal. The way its leaders of substance are leaving the party and joining the BJP reflects on the poor political management of the party by its top leadership and therefore what is needed is that the party should be reformed so that it once again becomes a part of the masses. However it cannot be overlooked that the congress has become a sinking ship in which its leaders are leaving the party in lurch and are joining BJP and other political parties perhaps for the greener pastures. It is because of the fact that the days of clean politics have gone and today ever Tom, Dick and Harry is present in the political parties without any exception. But as far as the congress is concerned it has become a party of differences, confusion and chaos is rite large on the face of congress and unless and until pragmatic steps are not taken by the top leadership of the party it is bound to lose its significance in the prevailing circumstances. Thus necessary steps should be taken by the leadership of the congress party so that the spree of desertions is given a good bye and the congress party once again becomes a force to reckon with. For this the rank and file of the congress has to work hard so that the congress becomes a mass based political party having a mass appeal and representation. All steps need to be taken by the top congress leadership to shun the parties sinking ship image so that congress becomes a party of substance and occupies a place of pride. It needs reform and restructuring of the organizational structure of the congress to ensure a place of pride for the party.
(The author is a retired Education Officer and Columnist).