'Clean house now' is Cong sentiment

As Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee prepares to move to Rashtrapati Bhavan, has the Congress party become stronger or weaker?

A dipstick survey suggests a new sense of confidence internally, despite the crippling defeat the party has suffered in the byelections in Andhra Pradesh, where it managed to win just two seats out of 19. The biggest complement of its members in the Lok Sabha in 2009 came from Andhra.

The party, especially mid-level party managers, feel Mukherjee’s elevation has opened possibilities for upward mobility. Two positions have fallen vacant -- not just the post of finance minister but also the seniormost troubleshooter in the party.

But, to maximise the opportunities for the party, the chief minister of a state told Business Standard, the Congress “must dump Mamata Banerjee”.

“Yes, I agree Mulayam Singh Yadav is not the most dependable ally. But either politely – by asking her ministers to resign – or asking her to leave the UPA, the Congress must cut itself free of Mamata Banerjee, and by extension, the baggage that she brings on board,” said the CM.

Another manager sketched a scenario that could so easily have been the Congress’ lot: “We could have been bullied by the numbers shortfall, have had to agree to a name suggested by a party that represents just five per cent of the electoral college, appeared to have been impotent, with the most senior member of the party sulking at having been denied the top post,” he said.

Instead, the feeling is that the party worked hard, got its allies together and got the party and government to shake off inertia. “At last we’ve acted our size,” said an officebearer.

“We have offered the country a candidate for president that is very hard, even for the opposition, to turn down” said Dalbir Singh, an officebearer in the All India Congress Committee.

For those in the party who understand economic issues, Mukherjee’s departure from North Block is a blessing in disguise. “Foreign institutional investors are turning away from India and instead going to Libya ! Tripoli is more attractive than Delhi or Mumbai! At least now the PM will be able to handle the crisis of credibility that has gripped our country” said a party manager with extensive business interests. All leaders agree Mukherjee’s departure will leave a vaccuum in the party – that his authoritative voice cannot be replaced. There are only two persons with the kind of institutional memory he has. Although they represent parallel poles of power, Ahmed Patel, advisor to the Congress president, and spokesman Janardan Dwivedi could come to grow into the role Mukherjee had. “Patel handles allies. Dwivedi is more familiar with party resolutions and functions. Circumstances might force them to work more closely,” said a manager.

No final decision by NDA on its pick

The “final decision” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on the presidential election remained elusive, even after a second meeting between the alliance partners. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), it appears continue to be in favour of not contesting against Pranab Mukherjee.

Most leaders felt the gains of winning the presidency would be frittered away if the government did not act to set the economy on a positive trajectory in the next three months, winning the confidence of industry and foreign investors; and if it missed the chance of restructuring the government and party. “Mukherjee’s exit has put in place an entirely new dynamic in the party and government. The time to leverage it is now,” said a party official.