Will the Rahul Gandhi formula work this time?

The latest changes in the Congress’s organisational structure and the cabinet reflect a last-ditch attempt by the increasingly nervous ruling party to boost its dwindling electoral fortunes. With barely a year to go before the 2014 general elections, the Congress desperately needs to reinvigorate its withering state organisations. That as many as nine states go to the polls later this year heightens the Congress’s urgency.

State organisations form the backbone of a political party, fortifying its strength in election season. Congress, no doubt, has serious reason to worry on this count. Barring Karnataka, the recent poll outcomes have revealed serious weaknesses afflicting the party’s state units across the country. 

The Congress debacle in the 2012 UP assembly elections, in spite of Rahul travelling the state’s length and breadth, indicated that the party’s foundations in a state where it once enjoyed absolute majority, are at best wobbly today. Hence, the need to get Madhusudan Mistry — one of the three new AICC general secretaries — to oversee the UP operations. Uttar Pradesh, with 80 seats, is crucial to the Congress.

Rahul believes that Mistry, who steered the party to victory in Karnataka, is capable of turning things around in UP.

Rahul’s increasing faith in Digvijay Singh is evident in the latter’s elevation as AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, where the Congress, dithering on Telangana statehood and facing an aggressive Jagan Reddy, has been pushed on the defensive. Following his resignation from the Union cabinet, CP Joshi, another dependable Congress leader, has been entrusted with  Bihar, Bengal and Assam where the party’s presence is negligible.    

In this reshuffle, the elevation within the organisation of New Delhi MP Ajay Maken, has perhaps been the most significant.  Maken has earned Rahul’s confidence for his significant work in New Delhi as the Union urban minister. No less significant is the move to sideline Jagdish Tytler, an embarrassment for the party for his alleged role in the 1984 Sikh riots.

These sweeping changes must be seen in the light of today’s coalition politics and assertive state leaders. National parties like the Congress and the BJP need strong state units to acquire power in Delhi. They need flexible grassroots leaders with political management and communication skills for forging alliances with regional parties.
Like in the last round of cabinet and organisational restructuring this time too, Rahul Gandhi seems to have led the changes.

So far, the Rahul imprimatur hasn’t led to a turnaround in the Congress’s electoral fortunes. The changes need to translate into the UPA government’s performance — not much time is left for that — as well as in toning up the party’s state organisations.