State elections underscore one point: Congress, the primary opposition party needs overhaul

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Amid victory celebrations and introspections as the state elections results poured in, curiosity is building up over who will be the next Congress – the primary opposition party— in India. The Congress has been routed out in the state elections. In fact, it has failed to make any mark, even losing Puducherry to the BJP.</p>
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On Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in an interview to PTI said that it is for the party workers to decide on who should be the leader. “I will do whatever the party wants me to do," he said.</p>
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Congress chief Sonia Gandhi earlier this year said there would be a new party president by June 2021. Though due to the Covid 19 pandemic the internal party election to find a new leader is now likely to be deferred until next year, many say that the Gandhi scion will be back as the chief of the party, despite prominent leaders suggesting an overhaul.</p>
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“In all this, one thing is clear – the Congress needs a change. India is a democracy and it is important to have a well-groomed opposition,” said an insider.</p>
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One time loyalists and party leaders including Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Azad who have been vocal about a revamp have been gradually sidelined, even as the party continues to underscore its democratic values.</p>
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“The primary leaders of the party have typically belonged to the Gandhi family and are die-hard loyalists,” he said.</p>
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“We know who will emerge as the leader—no surprise, it will be Rahul. If not, Sonia continues. The problem is the family. In reality, when it comes to top party leadership, it is the Gandhi family,” said a person close to the party leaders.</p>
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The Congress, in decades, has not allowed or groomed members to take up leadership roles. While UPA was in power for 10 years under the stewardship of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it is amply clear that the primary power centre remained with 10 Janpath.</p>
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The Congress desperately needs to rediscover and revamp. In a thriving democracy, it is important to have a well-defined and effective opposition party.</p>
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The state election results underscore that point.</p>