[Reader-list] Fwd: a good piece

[Appu Esthose Suresh]

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/za9GDvWWpgEN9vqMKsKt3K/Will-Sister-Act-make-Congress-stronger.html

As expected, the Congress party took no time to deny speculation over Priyanka
Vadra <http://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Keyword/Priyanka%20Vadra>’s
entry into active politics. Such rumours have always helped the Congress
party test the waters, especially when it comes to any member of the Gandhi
family taking over political tasks. There were several such speculative
reports before the official entry of Sonia Gandhi
<http://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Keyword/Sonia%20Gandhi>into politics
and prior to Rahul Gandhi
<http://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Keyword/Rahul%20Gandhi>donning new
roles—as a party campaigner, his candidacy in 2004, general secretary in
2007 and as vice president in 2013.
 Priyanka Vadra being the only one in the Gandhi family left untested as of
now, these reports could be preceding any such moves, provided the
reactions were on the expected lines. However, unlike in the past, there is
a sharp division in the Congress over Vadra’s entry into electoral
politics. While a section believes that Vadra being more extrovertish and a
natural politician in her demeanour, she would be able to attract more
youngsters and women to the Congress, which is in a do or die battle
against the Narendra
Modi<http://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Keyword/the%20Narendra%20Modi>-led
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Interestingly, the senior lot in the
Congress, which has serious reservations over Rahul Gandhi’s style of
functioning, think that only “Priyankaji” can make the battle even. Their
reservations arise from the shake-ups he has effected within the
organisation,which has caused a feeling of insecurity in the senior ranks.
They believe that Priyanka is easier to deal with and will be a smarter
politician by today’s standards.
However, the younger lot, who swear by Rahul’s leadership, feel that Vadra
is no longer the best bet for the party. Any larger role for her, other
than managing Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies, is likely to invite
trouble for the Congress. Any reference to Vadra could revive allegations
of irregularities in land deals involving her businessman-husband Robert
Vadra <http://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Keyword/Robert%20Vadra>.
Congress spokespersons will definitely have a tough time defending the
Gandhi family. Any revival of the allegations has the potential to put in
the shade the game-changing Land Reforms Act brought in by the United
Progressive Alliance government! Besides, many young leaders are not in
favour of pitching the siblings against each other.
Although often criticised for promoting dynastic rule, the Gandhi family
has been the uniting force for the Congress. But many believe that the
current generation has failed the Grand Old Party. Rahul, despite having
the luxury of opportunities, missed many chances he got on a platter to
emerge as a strong leader and capture the imagination of India’s youth.
Now, charges against her husband make Priyanka vulnerable—in the current
political scenario she could become a liability rather than an asset for
the Congress.
The Party’s Chintan
Shivir<http://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Keyword/Chintan%20Shivir>,
held in Jaipur in January, identified the need for addressing the
aspirations of the youth, the urge among women to be empowered and
independent and also the growing restlessness among the middle class.
‘Secular’ analysts compare Narendra Modi’s emergence on the national scene
with the situation that prevailed in Germany in the 1930’s. Assessing the
Germany of those days, political scientist Harold
Lasswell<http://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Keyword/Harold%20Lasswell>wrote:
“The psychological impoverishment of the lower middle class
precipitated emotional insecurities within the personalities of its
members, thus fertilizing the ground for the various movements of mass
protests through which the middle classes might revenge themselves,”
Rahul Gandhi’s recent speeches at public rallies have been addressed at the
youth as well as women, but it may be too late. Modi seems to have clearly
recognised the ambitious youth and the middle class as his support base. In
his speeches, Modi is repeatedly stressing the growing emotional insecurity
of India’s middle class. Rahul Gandhi keeps sending the signal that he is
not yet ready or confident enough to take up the big job. No one doubts his
integrity and his aides say that as a politician he is sincere to the core.
But he is yet to mature as a politician as per Indian standards—he is yet
to imbibe the cunningness, shrewdness and ability to measure the pulse of
the people (in simple terms, aspirations of the middle class), qualities
that define any successful neta.
Now the question is whether a ‘Sister Act’ will fill the gap.