Gujarat and Himachal election results: Lessons for Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi must stick to the constitutional route of secular nationalism, without ever falling into the Hindutva trap.
Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections have sounded their respective verdicts today, December 18, and the results that would be read as the litmus test for the newly anointed president of the Indian National Congress, Rahul Gandhi, are in.
While the alternately swinging state Himachal Pradesh, expectedly enough, went into the BJP's lap, the result in Gujarat was much more nail-biting, but in the end, not enough to usurp Narendra Modi from his home state.
At 81 and still counting, the Congress' performance in the "political citadel" of the BJP has not been lackluster, but has fallen short of victory by over 12 seats. The BJP, led by Modi himself, who addressed more rallies in Gujarat than Gandhi, is set to form the next government for the sixth time in a row, though its seat share is now about 102 and counting, almost 20 less than the 2012 tally.
Gandhi's insistence on the issues of the day, his choosing of principles over electoral pragmatism, seems to have put up a strong challenge that just fell short of the victory mark. On the other hand, some are calling Modi-led BJP's sixth win a "pyrrhic victory", not much to talk home about. Given these very contrasting modes of electioneering, what "lessons" can there be for the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi? Let's look at a few.
Be firm on the issues
In just four months of constant campaigning, Gandhi, along with his band of three musketeers - Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani - changed the conversation from simple majoritarianism and the much-criticised "Gujarat model" to jobs crisis, farmers distress, demonetisation and GST-driven anxieties and financial losses, dysfunctional healthcare and education sectors, among others.
The wins registered by the Congress and Mevani are a resounding indicator of that politics of issue-based uprising that the much-divided and industrialised Gujarat cannot brush under the carpet anymore. This means that Gandhi is on the right track to focus on socioeconomic issues.
Never compromise on principles
Gandhi's ferocity of rhetoric was fortunately always about the state of the economy, holes in the Gujarat model, questioning BJP's idea of development and not giving in to the communal cards played amply by the prime minister himself. Though it would seem that the majoritarian project in India is almost complete, with the BJP ruling in 19 states and the Congress in just four, Gandhi must stick to the constitutional route of secular nationalism, without ever falling into the Hindutva trap himself.
That would distinguish him and his party from the others, and in the long run, it would help him shine through.
Temple run is slippery slope
Though the Congress has scored well in the Gir-Somnath seats, the Congress president cannot ride the temple tiger alone hoping to win over the majority community. While the confusion between BJP's militant Hindutva and Gandhi's newfound love for benign Hinduism might work in the short term, it will never be enough to satisfy the majoritarian hunger for more and spectacular displays of Gandhi's "Hinduness".
As the victories of Mevani and Thakor have shown, it would pay to question the systemic abuse of power under the BJP's rein, and not display quasi-religiosity.
Empower the locals
Congress needs to really up its game as far as the cadre and party organisational structure are concerned, including strong local leadership at every level. It needs to promote more youth leaders as the voting percentage shows more young people inching towards the Gandhi-led camp.
If Gujarat has shown one thing, it's that locals like Hardik, Alpesh and Jignesh can sharpen the blunt instrument that's the Indian National Congress, thereby giving it ear to the ground and edge over BJP hegemony.
Love and affection, it is
During his inaugural address as the president of the Congress party, Gandhi sent out the message of "love and affection", as opposed to the BJP's "politics of hate". This is a powerful message, but it would need Gandhi and his Congressmen and women to never dither from this important departure from the debased political discourse of the day.
In 2019, the alternative that Rahul Gandhi would need to offer should be practised as much as preached by each and every member of the Indian National Congress.