The analysis meeting held on Saturday after the defeat at 24 Akbar Road in Delhi has made it clear that Congress is heading in the wrong direction again.
But now the biggest question is, what is Congress’s alternative? There is no direct answer. The second question is, will the disputes end now? There will be no answer because the party has a few faces left, and there is no coordination among them. The feud between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot seems to be never-ending. It will be interesting to see where leaders like Govind Singh Dotasra, Jitendra Singh, Harish Choudhary, CP Joshi, and Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, who are in the midst of a big dispute, will fit.
The party leadership bears full responsibility for the recent decisive defeat. Over the past nine years, no one has been held accountable for losses in any state, leading to leaders with connections remaining in defeated states. The policy of delayed decisions, indecisiveness, and reliance on a select few advisors has been detrimental, contributing to defeats in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. A different outcome in Rajasthan could have been possible with a proactive approach, such as significantly reducing tickets.
In every state, the Congress faces losses due to the presence of two power centres, mirroring the situation in the central leadership where multiple power centres coexist. Notable figures in this dynamic include the post-Punjab election group led by Priyanka Gandhi, consisting of leaders like Bhupesh Baghel, Charanjit Singh Channi, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sachin Pilot, etc., whose influence over Rahul has diminished. Another influential group is led by organizational general secretary K Venugopal, known for balancing the interests of all three Gandhis, making him the most powerful. The groupism led by National President Mallikarjun Kharge is evident, securing positions for his associates in the working committee. Kharge is aware of the influence commanded by those endorsed by Rahul and Priyanka.
The biggest reason for the defeat in Rajasthan was the infighting among the Congressmen, and hence, three secretaries were changed. First, Avinash Pandey was removed, and then Ajay Maken became a victim of disputes. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa maintained a defensive stance from the beginning, avoiding both enmity and friendship. Recognizing his limitations in Delhi, he remained focused on Punjab. The appointment of Harish Choudhary as in-charge of Punjab after a significant defeat indicated Rahul Gandhi’s continued support, despite Choudhary’s past questioning of Gehlot government policies. Choudhary is now reportedly eyeing a position in Rajasthan. While Randhawa expressed intentions to participate in Lok Sabha preparations, whoever assumes responsibility in Rajasthan faces a challenging task akin to wearing a crown of thorns.
If Jitendra Singh assumes leadership, disputes may diminish due to his inclusive approach. Dotasra is known for fostering consensus, and while he has not conveyed his concerns yet, it is anticipated that he will do so soon. Randhawa has expressed interest in Punjab, awaiting Rahul Gandhi’s swift response to the decisive defeat. The expectation is for a prompt policy change and the approval of a new team for Rajasthan.