Ancien regime

One of the more striking elements of the Congress and the dispensation it leads at the Centre 8212; far more eye-catching, certainly, than usual suspect Dynasty 8212; has been its over-reliance on age. Look at the list of prominent Congressmen and women in government and in the party hierarchy and you will find too few who have stakes in the country8217;s future and too many who could be fighting their last election, whenever it comes next. But take another look 8212; this time at the Congressmen and women on the benches, still waiting their turn on the political hotseat. The picture changes. An array of young and articulate men and women are biding their time, arguably many more in the Congress than in other mainstream political parties. As Rahul Gandhi is appointed general secretary in a much awaited reshuffle, the peculiar dissonance that lies at the heart of the Congress will be tempered. But not enough.

Somewhere down the line, Rahul Gandhi, scion of the Family, has also become a symbol of another kind. He emblemises generation next in the Congress. Though the young MP has not wrested a speaking role for himself yet, except on the campaign trail in UP, he has come to be seen as the front ranker in a potentially dynamic class that is still not being allowed to prove itself, earn its political spurs, bring in a fresh political idea or two. The Congress8217;s circumspection vis-a-vis its young is inexplicable. By keeping them waiting for positions of power and by allowing the party and government to be led by those steeped in the politics of an older day, the grand old party denies itself an exciting new connect with the voters of young India.

The diffidence is obvious still. Why not give the party8217;s new general secretary a more high-profile charge than NSUI? With elections apparently round the corner, why not throw him into the political deep end, ask him to pick a team for himself and deliver for the party? If it wants to remain relevant to a young country, the Congress will have to refresh and renew itself. Rahul Gandhi8217;s initiation can only be the beginning of that process.