In the Congress Party, the more things change the more they remain the same. On Monday July 16, when Congress President, Rahul Gandhi reconstituted the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body, with a mix of young and old leaders everyone expected to see more dynamism and a change of faces. But that was not to be. The seven North Eastern states have only three representatives of which two are from Assam and one from Manipur. The father-son duo of Tarun Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi are both in the CWC while veterans from the other states were given a go by. While the CWC cannot be top heavy and unwieldy, but including two people from the same family reflects a replay of dynasty and is sure to have its repercussions sooner than later. Gaurav Gogoi is yet to comprehend the rough and tumble of grass-roots politics. There are more competent leaders who have served the Party for decades who deserve to be inducted.
Meghalaya and Mizoram are two states where the Congress has its stronghold. It is in Assam that the Congress is decimated. So what is the strategy that Rahul Gandhi is trying to unleash? If Gaurav Gogoi and his father are expected to revive the Party’s fortunes in Assam and the other North-Eastern states then Rahul Gandhi has misread the mind of the voters.
The new CWC includes 23 members, 19 permanent invitees and 9 special invitees. Independent members will be appointed to be in-charge of various states. In the past, these nominees often played dubious roles. In some cases they acted like liaisons between the State Chief Ministers or wannabe CMs and the then Party President, Sonia Gandhi, trying to wrest favours for a price. This is one of the fatal flaws of the Congress Party.
The heads of five frontal organisations of the party—INTUC, Sewa Dal, Youth Congress, Mahila Congress and NSUI, will be special invitees. In most states of the North East, the frontal organisations like Sewa Dal are hardly present. The Mahila Congress too is a spent force and it takes a lot to revive these dormant frontal wings. Even the INTUC only makes occasional noises. Organisationally they are all weak and need to be infused with fresh energy. But this is a major challenge given the faces in the CWC.