Yatra just a start, Cong needs to do a lot more

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat JodoYatra came to an end at the historic LalChowk in Srinagar on Sunday. The 3,500-kilometre Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Yatra spread over 150 days, could be credited for two distinct gains: It has added an aura to the leadership of Rahul Gandhi who was for long at the receiving end of the BharatiyaJanata Party’s attack with unsavoury names. Second, it has etched to relief the Indian National Congress’ juxtaposition of inclusive nationalism versus the majoritarian Hindutva nationhood in the pan-Indian narrative. Popular mobilization is the mainstay of politics in a democracy.

Yatra while traversing 14 states and 75 districts could be said to have achieved fair amount of success on this front as it was welcomed and joined by multitudes and prominent co-walkers which included worthies such as RaghuramRajan, Kamal Haasan, Aditya Thackeray, besides scores of film stars, intellectuals, farmers, businessmen, women and civil society activists. The party owes a lot to them for the jump of adrenalin for an organization that had courted dormancy, if not morbidity,ever since the ascent of NarendraModi-led BharatiyaJanata Party to the saddle of power in Delhi. The reinvigorated cadre and rejuvenated machinery could be expected to help it in cashing in upon the churning in months ahead as nine states go to polls in 2023.

The party organization that oversaw the huge party machinery gearing back to action, could very well expect the same to take up the challenge of engaging the people. The despondent leadership can hope to rekindle the combative energy within the disillusioned cadres. Rahul Gandhi was seen in the new avatar of a charming, young leader who did not baulk at accepting garlands by reaching to individuals beyond the security cordon, hugging old women and tweaking the cheeks of kids and carrying them over shoulders for a while.

The ‘pappu’ image the BJP sought to maliciously promote has certainly been smashed, although most media houses towed the covert official directive of boycotting the coverage. The meticulous abstinence from participation in the on-ground electioneering in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi testified to its steadfast loyalty to the Yatra’s larger agenda of catalysing a transition from hate-filled narrative of the BJP to love, harmony and brotherhood.

Although Rahul often spoke of the BJP’s attempt to subvert the democratic institutions and undermine the credibility of vital organs of the state, he failed in framing the larger issues staring into the eyes of the nation. Or, it could be part of the deliberate strategy to keep aside such issues that vary from region to region. How would the Yatra impact the electoral outcome is the moot question. The scene remains hazy.

Even as the Yatra was halfway through its long march, the party suffered a crushing defeat in Gujarat, pulled out a victory in Himachal Pradesh, electedMallikarjuna Kharge as the second commoner president. These serve as pointers to the party’s waxing and waning fortunes. Having framed the major ideological issues that the party would pursue, it will require much programmatic clarity to take up the challenge against the BJP which currently enjoys its apogee.