An Open Letter To Rahul Gandhi On The Futility Of The Last AICC Session

The entire gamut of organizing AICC sessions has to be relooked with a new and modern perspective while holding on to the founding principles.

- ANIL ANAND

Dear Rahul Gandhi, The recently concluded Ahmedabad session of the AICC has raised many more questions than untying the knots in which the 130+ year-old Congress finds itself entangled. The cluelessness of the party on how to break the electoral "Chakravyuh" masterminded by the BJP, seems to have deepened than finding a way out.

This is the impression one has gathered from leaders, and rank and file of the party, who participated in the session or curiously watched from a distance, and the public at large who were hoping to see some blueprint emerging from the expected brainstorming sessions, though there was none.

Democracy loses its meaning, as currently the case is, if the opposition is weak. The AICC session was a golden opportunity for the party to embark on a journey to find its moorings. Unfortunately, another chance has been lost to reignite the imagination of both the party rank and file-leaders, and, more importantly, the large section of people wishing for a strong opposition.

Mr Gandhi, it is more alarming that the deliberations in the two-day session have not been able to enthuse even those leaders decoratively perched on the imposing dais. Many of them have been enjoying the fruits of power over decades including being part of the high-profile AICC set up without any break.

Their whispers, before the session: "Nothing is going to emerge as it will be ceremonial presentation and passage of certain resolutions, and customary speeches." After the session: "What could we have done? It has gone on the expected line."