Pioneer-DilliBilli-March.18th.2012-"Congress needs to get off its high horse"

"CONGRESS NEEDS TO GET OFF ITS HIGH HORSE"

Rahul Gandhi needs to understand that the grassroot worker is loyal, proud and hardworking. Taking him out of the equation will not win votes for the party.

Congress’ debacle in five State elections doesn’t come as a shock to the grassroots workers of the party. They had their apprehensions when the tickets were distributed by leaders in Delhi. The party’s general secretary and other top Congress office-bearers who were incharge of elections should resign immediately. Heads have to roll to set an example for the future. Central Ministers who could not win in their area should resign too. Leaders need to realise that the public will not vote if the party has not kept its promise.

It is time for reality check. A senior leader from Punjab had predicted the outcome after looking at the how the tickets were distributed. In UP, the arrogance of the Congress leaders and the negative campaign led to the party’s defeat. Blaming others, showing aggression, making contradictory statements and addressing paid rallies obviously did not yield the necessary results. The leaders who are always around the Gandhi family did not give them the true picture.

Sycophancy is part of politics but in the Congress it exists at all levels. A grassroots worker is ignored by leaders. One wonders if the English-speaking leaders, who sit pretty in Delhi, are taken seriously.

There are stories how these people are blackmailed by State leaders who tell them how close they are to the High Command. The insecure leaders in Delhi, who have no idea on how things work, make life extremely difficult for competent and hardworking grounded leaders.

The end result is that the Congress is becoming hollow. I am told that many grassroots workers are very happy with the party’s disastrous results. They hope that this will open the eyes of the leaders. After all, the Congress now gives more importance to the likes of Beni Prasad and people who join it from regional parties.

This move may force the loyal partyworker to leave the party. The grassroot level worker feels humiliated. Ministers, MLAS and partymen from States have to wait for months for appointment. Only a select few get an audience. Even the youth elections were a flop.


If the Centre does not approve the person elected, the election is null and void. This irks the worker. Every State has at least 10 such leaders. They are mere creations of the High Command. This creates a rift and the leaders at the Centre take advantage of the situation. But the days of divided and rule have gone.

And so have the days when the partymen used to talk warmly about former Prime Minister, the late Rajiv Gandhi, or the charisma of the late Indira Gandhi. In those days, everyone was given an audience. Decisions were not based on feedback from one or two people but from various quarters. Today, sons and wives become leaders overnight and money is what makes the world goes round.

The High Command needs to understand that a real worker is proud, harworking and wins on his merit.

Genuineness with the right attitude and pleasantness matters and will win votes.