Congress Woes

On June 12, 1997 Sitaram Kesri was seen boasting about the vast support he had from party members for bringing down the Deve Gowda government.

But there is evidence that the support by partymen to Kesri was not for his widely criticised and even despised action in some quarters but for his subsequent decision to climb down and extend support to UF so that a mid-term election was avoided allowing the present representatives to continue for some more time.

The billion-dollar question is whether Kesri can lead the Congress to a majority in the event of a mid-term election. His success at the party presidents election securing 6,224 (82.5 per cent) votes would not stand him anywhere as far as general elections are concerned.

It is recognised that he does not have the charisma, mental and physical strength to provide such a leadership to the Congress Party trying to compete with the BJP. Advani does not recognise the Congress as the BJPs opponent. BJP recognises a threat from the UF though there are signs of the group breaking up; but the BJP is conscious that the electorate, disgusted with Congress and fearing BJPs communal politics, may vote and elect the UF partners again.

Congress is at its lowest ebb ever and Kesri (at 81) would not be able to handle the task effectively. His handicap while facing the electorate would be compounded by his decision to bring back to the party fold such discredited elements like Arjun Singh, N D Tiwari, S Bangarappa, and giving importance to such persons like Balram Jakhar and others.

If the Congress is serious in its efforts to defeat the BJP, it should have a leadership of committed and resourceful young leaders at the helm of affairs. For the partys sake, Kesri should hand over charge to a team of young Congress leaders like A K Antony, Rajesh Pilot or Margaret Alva. Such a tough, honest and dynamic group may be able to stand up to the might of the BJP and to take the Congress to the 21st century.