The Congress hopes against hope for the entire Opposition to agree on a candidate for president.
Facing the threat of oblivion, the Grand Old Party of India is desperately trying to shake off its deep-rooted torpor and remain relevant in the rapidly-shrinking political ground that it finds itself in. With the BJP on a roll and going about their avowed goal of occupying the entire political space “from Panchayat to Parliament” in an extremely systematic and clinical manner, the Congress—in its present disarrayed form—appears far removed from presenting any challenge.
After humiliating setbacks in successive state assembly elections—Punjab being the only exception—the Congress is hobbling around not only to set its own house in order, but also to forge Opposition unity to take on the might of PM Narendra Modi’s popularity and Amit Shah’s shrewdness. The upcoming elections for the president and vicepresident of the country are being seen as a test case for the Opposition parties—whether they can come to get her and put up joint candidates for the two Constitutional posts.
The presidential election has to be held before July 24 when Pranab Mukherjee’s term comes to an end. Several leaders of Opposition parties feel this “experiment of unity” could very well go beyond the presidential election and be a precursor to an antiNDA front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Congress leaders are not very optimistic about the operation that is being spearheaded by Sonia Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi is also believed to be chipping in, and is expected to play a bigger role with Sonia keeping unwell. A senior leader says it looks like an exercise in futility.
“There are 13 parties and as many leaders with big egos. It is not easy to bring them on a common platform,” he tells Outlook.
This story is from the May 22, 2017 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 22, 2017 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Will Hindutva Survive After 2024?
The idealogy of Hindutva faces a challenge in staying relevant
A Terrific Tragicomedy
Paul Murray's The Bee Sting is a tender and extravagant sketch of apocalypse
Trapped in a Template
In the upcoming election, more than the Congress, the future of the Gandhi family is at stake
IDEOLOGY
Public opinion will never be devoid of ideology: but we shall destroy ourselves without philosophical courage
The Many Kerala Stories
How Kerala responded to the propaganda film The Kerala Story
Movies and a Mirage
Previously portrayed as a peaceful paradise, post-1990s Kashmir in Bollywood has become politicised
Lights, Cinema, Politics
FOR eight months before the 1983 state elections in undivided Andhra Pradesh, a modified green Chevrolet van would travel non-stop, except for the occasional pit stops and food breaks, across the state.
Cut, Copy, Paste
Representation of Muslim characters in Indian cinema has been limited—they are either terrorists or glorified individuals who have no substance other than fixed ideas of patriotism
The Spectre of Eisenstein
Cinema’s real potency to harness the power of enchantment might want to militate against its use as a servile, conformist propaganda vehicle
The Thalaiva Factor
At atime when Bollywood Is churning out propagandist narratives, south cinema, too, has Stories to tell