By Devsagar Singh
The AICC session in Ahmedabad was a meandering exercise of the Congress party to find its foot again while reaffirming commitment to INDIA block in an attempt to keep the Opposition flock together. Rahul Gandhi , as usual , remained the party’s star taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on issues like Trump’s tariff war and the Government’s week-kneed response to it besides a warning of an economic storm ahead.
The all-important AICC resolution spoke of issues like the need for judicial accountability in the wake of alleged cash recovery in a high court judge’s residence, lack of a clear ideology of other opposition parties, national harmony , equal respect of all faiths, among others. The crux of the party in terms of its political agenda, however, came from Rahul Gandhi’s speech in which he signaled that the party is going to step up its OBC outreach. Stating that the backward classes accounted for 90 per cent of the population, Rahul said the Congress will ensure representation to and participation of this 90 per cent.
Congress President Kharge lent his weight behind Rahul by asking: “How many dalits have been made members of Hindu trusts? When you don’t make dalits, untouchables, backwards and extremely backwards trustees of Hindu trusts, what right do you have to include non-Muslims in Waqf boards?”
Surely, Kharge’s points touched raw nerves of the BJP/RSS in the wake of just passed laws on waqf properties. The Congress session , however, did not make a big hue and cry over the issue , apparently realizing its sensitivity.
Most Congress leaders, it is said, were wary of making a direct attack on the Government over the waqf legislation issue even though they opposed it in Parliament. Indeed, some observers felt there were two strands of thought in the session—one favouring a frontal attack on the Modi government on all issues and the other, albeit in minority, suggesting putting forth a positive, alternative narrative while criticizing the Government. Distinctly, Rahul led the first group while Shashi Tharoor seemed to represent the other.
The party , as expected, devoted little or no time in discussing INDIA block beyond a mere mention of its commitment to the Opposition formation in its final resolution. Some observers said it was probably an afterthought. The party could have done well , perhaps, in keeping the partners in good humour by acknowledging their contribution in national politics. Kharge’s mention of their role in opposing the waqf bill in Parliament appeared brief and incidental.
True, the party was in no urgency to make a call on the INDIA block partners beyond the upcoming Bihar assembly elections where the Congress has smooth relations with the RJD. But the optics matter in politics.
Overall, the AICC session was something of a technical exercise where the party assembled in strength to signal its presence in the national political scene without an assured future in the short term. Even so, the Congress remains the only hope of an alternative to the BJP. It must continue its efforts to fill up that space whenever the opportunity arises.