Congress president's election: Uncertain times ahead for the party

The election of Kharge as Congress president is almost certain. From here on, if the Congress does not improve its poor electoral performance, a challenge could emerge to the Gandhi family leadership

With the almost certain election of Mallikarjun Kharge as Congress president on October 17, the Congress will not necessarily become a more democratic party, just as J P Nadda's extension did not make the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) more undemocratic. The contrast being made between election vs nomination in appointing the president of the two parties is quite erroneous.

The key to the relationship of a party's manager to its political leader is whether the party is in power or out of it. Its organisational leadership is subservient to its political leadership when it is in government, and the role