Enemy within the Congress

BETWEEN US Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Gandhis must realize that the reasons for the repeated failures to convert electoral contests into victories were not so much due to a strong rival, but essentially because the enemy was within and not outside.

- PANKAJ VOHRA

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Gandhis must realize that the reasons for the repeated failures to convert electoral contests into victories were not so much due to a strong rival, but essentially because the enemy was within and not outside. The fact-finding committees appointed after every debacle were just an eyewash since many of those who were entrusted with the task of ascertaining the reality, were themselves to blame for the mess.

The Congress high command has to go in for a complete overhaul and side line those whose performance has been below par and their political acumen on most matters is in doubt. The first realization has to be that those who were entrusted with the task of finding solutions were the problems themselves.

Indira Gandhi was a great admirer of Joan of Arc. She was inspired by her belief that "in truth there is no defeat except from within. Unless you are beaten there, you are bound to win". The current Congress continues to have an organizational structure which is both unwieldy and unproductive.

Most of the office bearers have no work and there is hardly anyone in the areas they come from, who recognizes them or their contributions. They are just dead wood.