Is there no way back for the Congress? Depends.

It is now accepted that Rahul Gandhi will become the President of the Congress Party, the only question is when. There is no doubt or debate about this. Punjab Congress Chief, Captain Amarinder Singh said," Sonia Gandhi is a brilliant leader. I have said that she has been working (as Congress President) for the last 20 years. If she feels that the time has come to give it to a new generation, then she should pass it on and we will fully support Rahul (to take over)." Why this attitude of craven servility? Historian Ramachandra Guha believes that the reasons why the Congress cannot think beyond the Gandhi family are that they have always been in charge, they hold the party together, they control party finances and the rest of the members of the party are like servants of the family. It is true that the Gandhi name is recognized throughout India whereas other leaders within the Congress are known in their own states. The main problem is that, unlike the BSP or the Communists, the Congress has no specific ideology to hold it together and there is every chance of it falling apart, as different leaders fight to wear the crown. The Gandhi family is seen as the problem for the Congress but it is the only solution available to keep the party's election prospects alive. The problem Rahul Gandhi has is that he has been brought up in a cocoon of luxury and security so that he has no idea of how India, or indeed the rest of the world, lives. In that way his life is probably similar to that of Sanjay Gandhi, who is blamed for the Emergency and the decline of the Congress, even though Rahul appears to be a much nicer man. We do not know whether speeches and phrases, like " suit, boot ki sarkar ",  are written for him to recite by heart but how can he connect with people if he has no idea of how people live. Sonia Gandhi started life in an ordinary family in Italy and so probably has some memory about a life without scores of servants. Also both mother and son are assured of winning their seats from Rae Bareli and Amethi respectively, while Karti Chidambaram, son of the last Finance Minister, P Chidambaram, lost his deposit from the former Congress stronghold of Sivaganga. Some draw comparisons with the BJP losses in 2004 and 2009 to find a way back for the Congress, because the difference in the share of votes is only about 2%. In the absence of an ideology the Congress can win only by promising handouts but regional parties are on to that flimflam and promise even more, in a game of electoral poker. Scaring minorities about Hinduism unites Hindus against the Congress and there again regional satraps are more vocal. There is no Congress without the Gandhis, but it cannot win elections with them in charge. Like Tantalus, isn't it?