Will the severest election drubbing to India's Grand Old Party, Congress shake the party and its top leadership charter out a different course. from the status quo? Or Will the party stick to its Nehru family strong bond. These questions gain momentum after severest drubbing to the party in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The party that once reigns supreme in India today has failed even to get enough seats to become an official opposition party. Party's one drubbing after another is the result of its "pseudo elitist" mindset and resultant strategy.
After Indira Gandhi, party top leadership has, more or less. centered around rootless and high-profile gangs of "pseudo" leaders having hi-fi style totally cut off from the Indian masses. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and beeline of so called leaders. It is one thing to shed crocodile tears for poor and downtrodden but on reality turf, its quite different. If you haven't been a part of poverty, struggle and toiling labour, you can't feel and share the pain, agony and sufferings of "real India". This explains why Congress populist Rs. 6000 monthly guaranteed income offer didn't work. Instead, prime minister Modi's Kisan Scheme of Rs.6000 was more acceptable.
The Congress biggest folly since seventies has been that party has heavily relied on Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and the main reason was to cash the charm of Nehru dynasty. It worked as long as pre-independence generations formed the bulk of India's electorate college but gradually it started changing as the country's socio-economic profile was spinning to a more vibrant and skilled awakened society.
Congress miserably failed to identify itself with new India. By the beginning of 21st century, India had turned into fastest growing economy with a vast pool of skill and talent. These people have emerged as important opinion makers and many among-st them are working in rural India.
The new emerging India found itself uncomfortable with the GOP, that continue to live on old-fashioned of facade "secularism" and sham economic policies for poor and downtrodden. By the time, the charm of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty had evaporated to great extent and a new class of leaders from lower strata had emerged. Narendra Modi was one of them. As the Modi uprooted Congress from Mahtama Gandhi home state Gujarat, it was the time Congress should have realized the potential threat from India's emerging leadership. There were many within the Congress but dynastic blinded GOP refused to swim with the tide.
Congress didn't mend its way even after the crushing defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It went ahead with its proclaimed love for Nehru dynasty and chose to hand over leadership to Rahul Gandhi, considered by many as "pappu-child" to challenge the 'darling" of Indian masses, Narendra Modi. Knowing well that Rahul Gandhi was no match to Modi, party rank and file were made to surrender to the dictates of a bunch of Nehru-Gandhi's loyalists to make prince to succeed royal mother Sonia Gandhi.
That was the end of road to power for Congress. Congress was still under great illusion that it could fool Indian masses with the charm and "boyish " utterances of Rahul Gandhi. It didn't learn any lesson from past. Indians always prefer "fighter", icons, heroes and ideals from amongst themselves. They sympathies with the victim of rich and elite system. And it was Modi, not Rahul Gandhi. The massive mandate, over 50 percent vote to PM Modi re-enforces this narrative. They have mandated with vengeance
Congress's biggest blunder in 2019 elections was to abuse and call "Modi chor hai". Nobody in India believe that PM Modi is "chor" or corrupt. Modi and his family simplicity, and humble background have endeared PM to masses. Any abuse at Modi is taken as abusing a common man. Its like kettle calling the white pot black. Moreover, who will believe a party and its leader tainted with corruption charges and involved in scam after scam? Even strong critics of Modi admit he is above board. One wonders why Rahul Gandhi advisers and strategists didn't realize this folly. It is said its never late in politics. GOP should make a fresh start.