MANDATE 2009: TRIUMPH OF NEO-NEHRUISM

 

            On 16^th May 2009, Dr. Manmohan Singh became the only incumbent Prime Minister sans Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to win second consecutive term after completing full 5 years in office.  Continuation of Congress dominated alliance in the government reminds one of the Nehru era in more than one way. Stability and development were the issues on which people preferred Congress over other parties in the post-independence years. It was seen as a major force against Hindu and Muslim communalism as Nehru’s commitment to secularism was unquestionable. The umbrella character of its organization brought under it majority of people from almost all castes and religions as no one wanted to miss the opportunity to progress. These were the reasons enough for comprehensive Congress victories in first 3 general elections under Nehru’s premiership. He neither required radical economic agenda nor passionate appeals of social justice to garner support of the masses.

            Dr. Singh’s 5-years tenure somehow succeeded in generating similar impression about the ruling combine among the masses. His government enjoyed relative stability, except the brief turmoil over confidence vote on nuclear deal at the fag end of the term, thanks to the solid support of 61 Left MPs. The previous governments since 1989 were comparatively more unstable, including the NDA regime, as uncertainty always prevailed over the confidence of completing full tenure. The mandate of 2004 was to forge broader unity against communal forces, which had been duly respected in last five years. The Congress unexpectedly showed less vacillation over the communal issues as was evident from its adherence to Sethusamudram project in spite of saffron bogey of destroying mythical Ram Sethu. Also, it took up the issue of deprivation of Muslim community and turned the BJP’s arguments on its head about minority appeasement. It also created the impression that inclusive growth rather than sectarian interests has been its purpose of governance. It wisely adopted conciliatory approach towards left’s principled opposition to financial liberalization. Congress never took the left head on over these issues, thus, denying the latter credit of saving Indian economy when many capitalist systems in the world face the crisis. As a result, it was Dr. Manmohan Singh and his team that received praises for delicately balancing the economy and viewed as hope for preventing any collapse in the future.

            Significant increase in Congress seats in the Parliament is also the result of renewed approach towards party functioning that brought fresh air into the organizational machinery. Credit for this undoubtedly goes to steadfast leadership of Sonia Gandhi. Once dismissed as political novice, she has now emerged as tallest political leader of her generation. Congress has succeeded in regaining confidence of poor and middle classes as its leaders kept on harping upon the pro-poor and pro-farmer approach of UPA government. The programs like NREGA and loan waiver scheme came handy for convincing propaganda during the electioneering.   The party calibrated its approach in such a fashion that the pro-poor appeal never turned against rich or becoming rich. Sonia has developed the skill of connecting with masses in the same terms as her mother-in-law used to do in her heydays. Realizing that it was the poor people who constituted Indira Gandhi’s real political strength, Sonia has focused on connecting the Congress organization with them. However, it was perhaps the only imitation on her part of India’s former Prime Minister. Rest of her functioning as High-Command is dramatically different from the iron lady of the past, and even from her husband. They are aimed at reclaiming the Nehruvian legacy of Congress as democratic umbrella organization.

            Various thoughtful decisions by Ms. Gandhi over the years have benefitted the Congress in the long term. Division of party and government was the first major change introduced by her, which has been total departure from the practice of Indira-Rajiv period. A team of powerful general secretaries like Rahul Gandhi, Digvijay Singh, Virappa Moily, Ashok Gahlot etc remained out of central government and concentrated on organizational functioning. Ms. Gandhi never hesitated to send the influential leaders to state level affairs despite their reluctance as was evident from Gulam Nabi Azad’s posting in J&K and making Pranab Mukherjee West Bengal PCC chief. This way, she not only exerted the superiority but also signaled displeasure against coterie politics. Neglect of veteran like Arjun Singh further made clear her preference to dynamic performance over sycophancy. Today Congress has various leaders at the national level who are generally accepted as good at governance like Dr. Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, P. Chidambaram, A. K. Anthony etc. This approach has resulted into Congress projecting itself as team of capable leaders in the government and the party, a shift from over- centralized politics of 1970s and 1980s.

            More significantly, Congress is back to the Nehruvian days when many state leaders were popular enough to win elections on their own. They have been given free hand and stability by the High-command, which has yielded significant returns. The examples in sight are Y.S. Rajshekhara Reddy in Andhra, Ashok Gahlot in Rajsthan, Sheila Dixit in Delhi, Bhoopender Hooda in Haryana and Tarun Gogoi in Assam. This decentralization of functioning has helped the party in ensuring proper division of labor and responsibility. The last, but not the least, change brought in by Ms. Gandhi was packing the old generation of Congressmen to Raj Bhavans of different states, thus providing opportunity to generation next in the Congress. Many of the influential leaders of the Indira-Rajiv era, who are alive today, are appointed as Governor like N. D. Tiwaree, Balram Jakhar, Prabha Rau etc. Octogenarian leader like Karunakaran was forced to sit at home calmly, while irritants like Bhajan Lal, Buta Singh and Natwar Singh were compelled to leave the party. This opened up space for Rahul Gandhi’s younger team to prove its potential.

            The steady approach to blossom Rahul into leadership role is much similar to Nehru’s method towards Indira, wherein she was made to learn the basics of politics for years. This has also paid in its own way as criticism of promoting dynastic rule became ineffective and people were impressed with the hard work undertaken by Gandhi-duo to usher another term for Dr. Manmohan Singh. Congressmen must understand that the mandate is also for providing opportunity to non-Gandhi person to govern the country. Any attempts by coterie and sycophants to turn back the clock will surely be disliked by the people. Sonia and Rahul must guard themselves from such phenomena.

            There are few more important things the Congress must reflect upon. Despite significant increase in number of seats, Congress received only 2% more votes than 2004 even when it has contested more parliamentary seats. It is still far behind the 49% vote share won under Rajiv Gandhi in 1984. There had been division of opposition votes in states of A.P. Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Maharashtra that benefitted Congress. Focused and committed regional players like JD-U in Bihar and BJD in Orissa are still difficult nuts to crack. While this mandate is interpreted as vote for development and secularism, any neglect of issues concerning social justice can prove costly. Similarly, the communal politics takes no time to bounce back once given opportunity. The communal parties thrive in the conditions of unemployment, stiff price rise and any events arousing fear of national insecurity and disintegration. If Congress dreams of winning handsome majority five years later, these are the areas it can not afford to neglect. It must keep in mind that Indian electorate is inclined to punish arrogance, corruption and complacency. Return to the discourse of India soon becoming a superpower without electricity at every home, education to each child, health care for all, job security for workers, employment opportunities for youth, care of elderly persons and profitable farming for farmers; will invite people’s wrath. Maturity and thoughtfulness shown by Congress’ top leadership in recent past is an assurance with this regard, however, its history rooted in class politics raises an alarm. After all, the legendary Nehru also sacrificed his visionary wisdom to keep in tact alliance of the ‘haves’ in support of Congress while masses were merely shown mirage of socialist future.