HINDSIGHT ROHIT SINGH RANA Congress destined to play second fiddle? A brave attempt was made by the Congress to put a show of solidarity in the view of factionalism that is not a secret now. The State Congress is divided between Soz and Azad factions. Despite that Saifu-din Soz, the State Party President tried to cobble up a joint front by organizing a rally in which some of the members of both factions were seen together. But the show did not run well as the rally was to be addressed by Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ambica Soni both AICC General Secretaries. The taste of the cake turned sour when both these leaders did not turn up for the rally, so assiduously crafted by Soz. Did Azad pour cold water over Soz’s efforts to project himself as a great binder in the State Congress is any body’s guess? But grape wine cannot be stopped from having its own versions ready. Some say that it was exactly for the purpose of showing Soz his place that the two senior central functionaries from Delhi did not attend. Though in such circumstances, the ready phrase available is that they could not come because of some pressing engagements. What more pressing engagements could be for senior party functionaries than to attend a rally aimed at reducing the mistrust and putting up a joint and united face in the wake of coming elections? Here something smells foul, more so because some die-hard Azad loyalists like Saroori, Manohar lal, G S Charak, Jugal Kishore were not seen in the rally. Conspicuous by their absence suggests something deep inside the body of the state unit of the largest political party of the country. Every person is watching with deep interest, what is Congress up for in the coming elections. In a coalition with National Conference it is playing second fiddle and in the crucial matters its MLAs have openly clashed with the members of NC on the floor of the house. Not long ago, Soz had raised heckles by saying that they could form a government on their own, but at the recently held rally Soz was a little subdued and muted when he said that Congress cannot form government on its own. Here the real politik seeped into the wisdom of Soz which is the most likely possibility. As per his statement that his party will emerge as the largest one in the State is something that does not seem likely given the fluid nature of State’s political reality. With factionalism still a problem and Soz-Azad differences not subdued, how Congress can with thumping chests, proclaim that it will emerge as the largest party. A new strategy is on although subtle one that Congress may finally cobble up a Coalition with its present partner National Conference. The Statement of Soz that AFSPA is a temporary measure is a subtle signal to Omar Abdullah that on this count they are one. Having said so, it will be unwise for Congress not to put its own house in order so that they emerge with a sizable number of MLAs in the elections. In politics nobody has permanent friends or foes. Congress is destined to play perhaps a second fiddle, if so then why not to change partner and go with PDP if they come up with a ‘viable’ alternative. Congress for all practical purposes has lost ground in the State since 1975. To share power without which it perhaps cannot, it will have to switch sides, unfortunately with those with whom it has divergent political ideology. This is the tragedy of the Grand Old Party in the State. How well it would have been taken if Soz had said that the State Congress will like to remain in opposition but not compromise on its principles and political ideology. Alas those times of clean politics are now gone, it is opportunism and nothing else that it has been reduced to.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:01:59 +0000
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