I thought that there were three camps in Congress which is clearly a house divided. It was the Rahul camp, the Sonia camp and the old-timers. I thought that because the way the Rahul and Sonia camps were often at loggerheads even thought the end game was the same for both of them. However, the insightful NV Subramanian writes that the three camps are as follows: the Rahul / Sonia camp, Manmohan / Chidambaran camp and Pranab Mukherjee / Digvijay camp. There is an overlap though. Digvijay is still working for Rahul. The faultlines came to fore after a senior Congress stalwart from Andhra, Mr. G. Venkataswamy "demanded resignation of Sonia Gandhi as party president, blaming her for the mushrooming corruption scandals and poll reverses of the party in several states."The Congress party operation is not democratic like the BJP. It is more of a monarchy where no one dares raise his or her voice. Such dissension is looked upon as treason. However, once a voice like that is raised, the fault lines get exposed and hitherto unchallenged leadership starts to look shaky. Case in point is Egypt and Hosni Mubarak. Mr. Madhav Nalapat writes that in the recent times, many people really close to her have fallen from grace because of corruption charges. Some of those names are Barkha Dutt, Vir Sanghvi, Suresh Kalmadi and Hassan Ali Khan. In words of Mr. Nalapat,: "Sonia Gandhi has so far ensured that the story of her life gets told the way she wants it to be. Despite its boast of being free, the Indian media has so far declined to reveal details of Sonia's immediate family: her two sisters and her mother. No facts have come out about their education or income level, nor have any of their visits to India been reported on properly. A similar fog surrounds Sonia's time in Britain and her family in Italy. Indeed, a fairytale quality suffuses the reporting and the books written about her that seems at variance with her ruthlessness and familiarity with the greasy world of Indian politics."
But recently, the Teflon has started to chip away. A Congressman with little to lose has cast the first stone. Even so, it betrays an anxiety within the party. Manmohan Singh is more interested in keeping his legacy intact and leave his seat to Chidambaran. Mukherjee does not want this opportunity lost. Digvijay Singh hates Chidambaran. Why are these minions jockeying for the top post when Rahul is still around? Well, the debacle in Bihar seems to have taken the sheen of the forty-year young leader who just does not get it. Anonymous senior Congressmen have used really uncomplimentary words for him. You will have to read Mr. NV Subramanian’s article for those adjectives. But the realization seems to be sinking that Rahul is not ready and may not be ever ready for the top post. That is what is causing the struggle for the top post if and when it becomes available.
With the next election over three years away, where does all this leave the aam aadmi? Can we ask these leaders to once think of the nation? Congress may not be a democracy but India is. They were elected to serve India and not the house of Gandhi. They need to resolve all their internal problems fast. As I have said in the past, three years may not be much for these leaders who are all sixty plus years old but for millions of our youngsters, that time is a large percentage of their lives and this very precious. We cannot afford to whither it away while Congress makes up its mind about who will adorn the throne.
Teflon Chips From Sonia Gandhi
By Madhav Nalapat
While the print media are as usual silent (with a handful of honourable exceptions) the internet has been buzzing with reports about the travels to Dubai, London, the Maldives, Geneva and other locations of the Maino clan, who seem to be a perfect example of the Hindu Undivided Family. And in a departure from the previous 43 years of silence, broadcast media is carrying news on allegations made about Sonia and her sisters, including reports that they are far wealthier than the meagre income reported by the all-powerful CP in her election filings suggests.
The article can be read at: http://the-diplomat.com/indian-decade/2011/01/28/teflon-chips-from-sonia-gandhi/
With the next election over three years away, where does all this leave the aam aadmi? Can we ask these leaders to once think of the nation? Congress may not be a democracy but India is. They were elected to serve India and not the house of Gandhi. They need to resolve all their internal problems fast. As I have said in the past, three years may not be much for these leaders who are all sixty plus years old but for millions of our youngsters, that time is a large percentage of their lives and this very precious. We cannot afford to whither it away while Congress makes up its mind about who will adorn the throne.
Teflon Chips From Sonia Gandhi
By Madhav Nalapat
While the print media are as usual silent (with a handful of honourable exceptions) the internet has been buzzing with reports about the travels to Dubai, London, the Maldives, Geneva and other locations of the Maino clan, who seem to be a perfect example of the Hindu Undivided Family. And in a departure from the previous 43 years of silence, broadcast media is carrying news on allegations made about Sonia and her sisters, including reports that they are far wealthier than the meagre income reported by the all-powerful CP in her election filings suggests.
The article can be read at: http://the-diplomat.com/indian-decade/2011/01/28/teflon-chips-from-sonia-gandhi/
Ulcers & the Congress
The ruling party is in worse shape than is readily apparent, reports N.V.Subramanian
The article can be read at: http://newsinsight.net/archivedebates/nat2.asp?recno=2099
The ruling party is in worse shape than is readily apparent, reports N.V.Subramanian
The article can be read at: http://newsinsight.net/archivedebates/nat2.asp?recno=2099
CWC member Venkat Swamy wants Sonia out
In his attack on the party chief, which came as a surprise for political observers, the veteran Andhra leader said Sonia Gandhi should step down and give chance to a new leader. Raising the issue of her foreign origin, he said the party needs a leader born in India.
In his attack on the party chief, which came as a surprise for political observers, the veteran Andhra leader said Sonia Gandhi should step down and give chance to a new leader. Raising the issue of her foreign origin, he said the party needs a leader born in India.
The article can be read at: http://expressbuzz.com/nation/cwc-member-venkat-swamy-wants-sonia-out/244230.html
The picture is from: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031208/nation.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment