Name the Congress leader

Sonia Gandhi’s remarkable contribution to the Congress election campaign is acknowledged on all sides and reflected in opinion polls. It has slowed down the Bharatiya Janata Party’s march and narrowed the gap between it and the Congress. In the popular perception the poll is a contest between Atal Behari Vajpayee and Sonia Gandhi but the reality is a disturbing leadership vacuum in the Congress. The party is not formally projecting her as its prime ministerial candidate nor is she contesting a seat. True, Sitaram Kesri did once say she would lead the Congress in Parliament but there have been no further moves in that direction. Nor has another name emerged from within. In campaign speeches, Sonia Gandhi makes pointed reference to the vacuum. Under the right leadership, she promises, the Congress will provide a stable and good government. This begs the question even as it keeps the peace in the party, allows those who are so inclined to think they will see another Gandhi as Prime Minister and others to hopeSonia in her wisdom will promote the best person. Such ambiguity is as unwise as it is dangerous.

As the country heads towards what is widely predicted to be another hung Parliament and a BJP-led or Congress-led coalition government, the question of who is going to lead the Congress becomes urgent. The country needs to be assured that the Congress will not be blundering and quarrelling all the way to the gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan if invited to form the next government. The party risks throwing away its gains if it does not come up soon with a credible name. Congress voters are entitled to ask what Sonia Gandhi’s feisty campaign will have achieved if it ends with the old and discredited power brokers sewing up a deal. Uncertainty does no good. Name the Congress leader.

The Sonia factor is, doubtless, tricky to handle. Her own intentions need to be gauged as well as the expectations of Congress supporters. Sonia Gandhi, as the prime mover in this Congress campaign, must take the initiative. She cannot, asall and sundry frequently remind her, shoot and scoot. Having taken the plunge into politics she is expected to assume responsibility in the government or party. A prime ministerial role should be ruled out because of her inexperience in politics and administration. Sitaram Kesri’s ambitions should be checked. He has neither leadership qualities nor popular appeal. All he has is a surfeit of guile. The Congress needs a leader who is familiar around the country, whose personal integrity is well known, and whose abilities are proven. One name which springs to many minds is Manmohan Singh but there are others too who might just fit that bill — and meet with no opposition from Sonia Gandhi who, after all, has promises to keep. Will such an arrangement disappoint the star campaigner’s fans? No, not if she announces simultaneously the job she intends to do. Universal primary education desperately needs a mover and shaker, someone with popular appeal and real clout in the government, someone to goad and harry thepolitical establishment to do its essential duty. It could turn out to be one of the best things a Gandhi has ever done.