Opinion Planning the party

The 125th anniversary of the Congress,India’s Grand Old Party,provides an occasion to look back upon its long journey,which is closely intertwined with the development of our nation and its emergent democracy. The Indian National Congress (INC) built a strong nationalist movement,which,unlike many others in the developing world,could successfully transform itself into a political party at independence. In the 1880s,the INC was a body of regional leaders who met on a common platform; nationalist ideas were expressed in regional contexts. But as it spread,two kinds of mobilisations took place: horizontal and vertical. In the former,large masses across the country joined the movement under the leadership of the Congress; while the latter saw the integration of regions under the growing linguistic middle classes into the national movement in the 20th century. This has contributed to the growth side-by-side of a national and regional identity today,rather than the balkanisation predicted in the ‘50s. However,serious questions can be raised of how inclusive the national movement,and consequently,the project of nation-building,has been of underprivileged citizens including Dalits,tribals and the poor. It was a political project in which social questions were ignored,creating an elitist democracy,which is yet to be corrected today.The post-independence trajectory of the Congress can be assessed through the lens of two major changes: ideological and organisational. The former has pushed the party from its centrist position towards almost right of the ideological spectrum,while the latter has contributed to its decline,both of which have implications for India’s development. Nehru attempted to establish socialism through land reform,centralised planning and state-led industrialisation,though due to opposition within the party,what emerged was a mixed economy. Indira Gandhi moved to the left in the ‘70s to strengthen her political position,promising a radical socialist programme: nationalisation of banks,effective implementation of land reforms,ceilings on urban property,curbs on industrial monopolies,etc. This left-of-centre position underwent a change under Rajiv Gandhi who sought to liberalise the economy integrating it with the world. It was the severe financial crisis of the early ‘90s that pushed the Congress towards globalisation and a market-oriented economy. While this shift has resulted in higher growth rates,it has benefited only a section of the population capable of making use of new opportunities,leaving the poorer sections further marginalised. However,following its victories in 2004 and 2009,the Congress leadership has attempted corrective measures to balance growth with equity through programmes like the MGNREGA. It remains to be seen if these programmes are properly implemented and whether they can help overcome inequalities. On balance,the developmental record of the Congress can be described as mixed with successes as well as failures.During the colonial period,the INC had an organisational machine reaching down into the villages that made a large-scale national movement possible. A process of long-term decline of its organisation and progressive shrinking of its base began in the mid ‘60s,leading to collapse in the ‘90s. Centralisation of power by Indira Gandhi,lack of internal democracy,factionalism and neglect of the organisation was responsible. The decline of Nehruvian secularism and socialism also provided space for emergence of Hindu nationalism and a market-based economy; while the backwards and Dalits unhappy with Congress rule moved away to form their own parties. However,it can be argued that in a large country of diverse regions and communities it was inevitable that the processes of democratisation and regionalisation would lead to replacement of the single-party system with multi-partyism,representing narrower interests and identities. The formation of the INC as an umbrella organisation was possible due to a common enemy,imperialism; today it is very difficult to sustain an aggregative party based on the support of all classes/castes and regions.Since the early 2000s,attempts have been made to revive the Congress organisation and base under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi,particularly following the victories in the 2004 and 2009 national elections. However,in an era of coalition governments,parliamentary majorities are obtained in the states,and it is here that the real challenge lies. The party has little social/regional base and few structural linkages between grassroots workers and the leadership in most states,as poor electoral performance in UP in 2007 and more recently in Bihar,indicates. Nor is the central leadership in a strong position,constantly battling internal factionalism and recalcitrant allies. Anniversaries are occasions meant for celebrations,but the Congress leadership enmeshed in numerous scams,seems unable to function. It remains to be seen if a younger leader in the Nehru-Gandhi family will succeed in rebuilding the party,giving it firm ideological direction and making it relevant for a new generation that has not seen the national movement.

The writer is professor, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University