Congress repeats its mistakes

It was exactly 28 years ago that Sonia Gandhi had on this day (March 14) taken over as the president of the Indian National Congress after the humiliating exit of Sitaram Kesri from that position.

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There was hope and optimism in the grand old party which had been struggling to keep itself relevant, and in the initial years, the fortunes did change for the better.In 2009, the Congress peaked to cross the 200-mark, a political feat that had eluded it since 1984 and this achievement has never been replicated again. It is largely because the party has not focused on strengthening its organization, and there is no effort on the part of those who control it now, to somehow restore it to its original status. Everything appears to be a distant dream.

A wise man once said that there was no point to doing the same things repeatedly and expecting different results. In Congress, somehow, there is a strong coterie which believes, rightly or wrongly that it can bring about a monumental change by taking decisions which do not sit well with the cadres.

The ongoing Rajya Sabha polls are an example. Candidates who have no connect with the grassroots, and whose contribution to the party remains unknown, seem to have been selected, primarily because of either their caste and community or because of their proximity to some influential aide of the high command.