Congress Party could ill afford to dismiss the increasing defections of leaders from its ranks, and it is time long overdue for an introspection as to what exactly is causing these people to walk away from the grand old party.
Congress Party could ill afford to dismiss the increasing defections of leaders from its ranks, and it is time long overdue for an introspection as to what exactly is causing these people to walk away from the grand old party. While we are disappointed with Anil Antony’s defection to the BJP and his subsequent statements, examining the factors that drive them out of the party is prudent. Anil’s defection pains me more as I have personally known him since his Stanford University days in the U.S., where my son was a schoolmate, and both enrolled in Management of Science and Engineering in graduate studies. Let us not dismiss that it is one more defection of a learned person whose scholarly articles on Technology and their impact on society were a regular feature in India‘s major newspapers.
The attacks on Anil came from various quarters: some who were envious of his entry into politics, others who despised his father for various reasons, and a group who had the same level of intolerance as the governing party to a dissenting point of view. Whether he has made an impact with his assignment with the AICC or not, there is no doubt that he represents a generation of young people who are increasingly estranged from the Congress party, and that should be a serious concern for the future as the party is gearing up for the 2024 elections. However, although as an adult he has the right to make his own choice, Anil’s sudden foray into the BJP politics is a colossal mistake, which has severely embarrassed and pained his own father, A.K. Antony, a stalwart of the Congress party for decades, more than anyone else.”
Some of the BJP leaders in Kerala seem to be gloating that the Christian community will follow suit with Anil’s defection. That is much farther from the truth. Christians in Kerala understand the BJP ideology and their practices very well. They are educated and knowledgeable voters who will not fall for BJP’s political gimmicks. They foresee the prospect of a Hindu Rashtra in their future and listen to a constant stream of news coming out from BJP-ruled states where attacks on Churches, Priests, and Pastors occur with increasing frequency. They haven’t forgotten the renaming of ‘Good Friday’ into ‘Good Governance Day’ or the shutting down of Christian Charitable/educational entities across India while putting a chokehold on their Institutions using the power of FCRA to stop the flow of funds from abroad. Therefore, the BJP’s hopes of a sudden influx of Christians to their party rest on false premises, and Keralites will continue to uphold the values of democracy, secularism, and equal rights in the future.
Shashi Tharoor for working President:
Moreover, the Congress party needs more internal democracy and freedom of expression without the fear of retribution. Shashi Tharoor was welcomed to contest for the Presidency by the party hierarchy; however, he was penalized with exclusion from the steering committee for daring to challenge the status quo. Right now, rumors are that forces are at play to drive him out of the party altogether. Instead of utilizing his incredible talents and skillset, pressure had to be applied by some sane souls even to allow him to speak at the Raipur conference. Congress Party will be making a huge error if they let Tharoor walk, and the Congress in Kerala might even pay a heavier price. Instead, I would recommend to Kharge ji, the AICC President, to appoint Shashi Tharoor as the working President and designate him to use his diplomatic skills to negotiate a broader opposition front. Congress stands its best chance at a comeback in 2024 by combining the capabilities of Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor and enabling them to work together. If each of them was empowered to exercise their areas of expertise and strength, the Congress Party would create a formidable duo that could make a huge impact nationwide. This is a simple measure, which, if undertaken, will reap many benefits and secure a better position for Congress in the minds of the Indian voters. Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. It is time to think outside the box and reenergize the party and the nation. Time is short. Congress must act quickly and decisively.
Let the party also seek out and find candidates for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections from the grassroots who are dedicated to the ideology of Congress and who will be reliable and steady in a storm of temptations and adversity. It would be prudent to select those candidates months in advance so they have ample time to convey the message to their constituents. There is no time to waste. I urge Kharge Ji to work with speed and clarity to stem any further bleeding from the party. If Congress continues in this mode of implosion, both Congress and India will be doomed.
(The author is a former Chief Technology Officer of the United Nations and Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA.)