Can Congress turn the corner

Till recently, most watchers of the political scene in India have been writing off the prospect of the Congress turning the corner and presenting a challenge to the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah led ruling dispensation. The BJP appears to be well entrenched and capable of beating the challenge not only from the emaciated Congress but also from the regional parties. The Congress footprint has been eroding over the years since 2014, when it was ousted from power at the Centre by the BJP. It is now ruling on its own only in two states - Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In three other states, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, it is a junior partner in coalitions headed by regional parties.
What has further demoralised the rank and file of the Congress is the steady desertions by important leaders in the states by important personalities. Many of them joined the Congress bête noire, the BJP, or floated their own parties. Former leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad was the last important figure to leave the Congress. But two important developments have again raised the prospect of the Congress beating back the challenges both from within and outside to score over its rivals.
The latest of course is the election of a non Gandhi president of the party. Mallikarjun Kharge has become the first non Gandhi to be elected president of the Congress in almost a quarter of a century. Of course, it remains to be seen if he would chart out an independent strategy to revive the party fortunes or just act as a rubber stamp of the Nehru-Gandhi family. If he succeeds in evolving a collective leadership of the Congress, it would give a boost to the party fortunes.
Another and the most significant development in the last few weeks and months is the Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo Yatra being undertaken from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Despite insignificant coverage of the march by most sections of the media, it has been drawing massive crowds. The significant public participation broadly indicates two things, the public disenchantment with the ruling dispensation led by the Modi-Shah duo, and the people possibly giving another chance to the Congress.It is becoming increasingly clear that the Congress focus on burgeoning unemployment and rising inflation levels is building a connect with the common people, especially the youth. This is becoming evident to all independent observers of the Indian political scenario.
The ruling dispensation also appears to be waking up to the emerging possibilities. This is apparent from the emphasis lately on the government’s attempts to step up public sector recruitment. How far, the too little too late, drive of the government goes remains to be seen. An indication of the success or failure of the Congress moves to revive its fortunes will come from the year end Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. If the Congress ousts the BJP from power even in one of the two states, it will get a major boost. A Congress revival will also boost the prospects of broader opposition unity across the country. That will set the alarm bells ringing in the BJP..

(Writer is a political analyst)