Old Guard vs Young Turks in Congress – this issue has long been the centre of discourse when it comes to dissecting the flagging fortunes of India’s grand old party. Two years ago, when Rahul Gandhi took charge as Congress President, signal was loud and clear that mantle was handed over to young leaders. But, little did the party expect that the diligently crafted plan was meant to doom. Rahul’s lacklustre leadership and party‘s dismal show in subsequent elections not just weakened his stature but his lieutenants too bore the brunt.
Promising leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Milind Deora apparently among Rahul Gandhi’s close aides raised banner of revolt in their state but were either persuaded or pressured to keep calm. Jyotiraditya Scindia’s exit from Congress took the party by surprise and also dealt a heavy blow.
However, the rebellion and subsequent expulsion of Jyotiraditya Scindia is seen as turning point in the tussle between party’s younger lot of leaders and veterans. This may have ripple effect. The sudden change of heart for other young turks in the party can’t be ruled out. The episode is also a reminder of the drift within the party and top leadership’s failure to take quick decisions.
There is a feeling within that those (not being a Gandhi) nursing national ambitions can’t realise their dream as there exists a glass ceiling. Also, reports suggest that Congress high command doesn’t want young leaders to rise because they don’t want to outshine Rahul Gandhi.
A look at Cong young turks who nursed grudges against party:
Sachin Pilot
The young, suave, urbane and charismatic leader is credited for dethroning BJP and ensuring return of Congress in Rajasthan but many feel that he didn’t get his due.
Sachin Pilot, who is at ease equally in TV debates as with rural masses, worked overtime to strengthen party and build grassroots connect. He worked assiduously for party’s revival and even emerged victorious too.
Before Rajasthan assembly elections, Congress didn’t announce a CM face but he was assumed to be the front-runner for the post. But, after the results, Pilot was cold-shouldered by the high command and party veteran Ashok Gehlot was given the charge.
This was a classic example of party high command edging out the young leaders and reposing faith in old guard. The move created a lot of heartburn in Pilot camp, however, the party managed to pacify him.
Milind Deora
Milind Deora, the former MP from South Mumbai, is another young leader from Rahul Gandhi’s camp. His grudges against the party came to the fore before 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when he was reportedly on the brink of snapping ties. Playing second fiddle to Sanjay Nirupam wasn’t acceptable to him and he made his disillusionment with the high command clear.
Owing to his vociferous protest, he was made Mumbai Regional Congress Committee President before 2019 LS elections. But, after party’s disastrous performance, he resigned from the position taking moral responsibility.
Much lik ke Jyotiraditya Scindia, he was among those Gandhi loyalists who digressed from the party line and supported Modi government on Article 370 move.
Very unfortunate that Article 370 is being converted into a liberal vs conservative debate.
Parties should put aside ideological fixations & debate what’s best for India’s sovereignty & federalism, peace in J&K, jobs for Kashmiri youth & justice for Kashmiri Pandits.
— Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) August 5, 2019
Deependra Hooda
Three-time MP and son of former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, he is another young leader to stay sidelined in the party despite his mass appeal.
Like Scindia and Milind Deora, Deependra Hooda was another leader who supported revoking of Article 370 by Modi govt. The 42-year-leader had dubbed it as a move towards ‘national integrity’.
However, in Hooda’s case, the Cong high command seems to have taken lessons from Scindia disaster. The party picked Deepender Hooda as its nominee for Rajya Sabha in place of Kumari Selja, a well-known Sonia Gandhi loyalist.
Selja was widely tipped to get a second term but the party apparently pre-empted any revolt by acting in advance and preventing Hooda junior from jumping the ship like Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Jitin Prasad
The former Union Minister is another young leader, who failed to get assignment/responsibility worth his potential.
The 46-year-old Brahmin leader from Uttar Pradesh has been in the reckoning for state chief’s post for long, but he eventually lost out. Currently, Prasad remains an ordinary Congress member in UP and just special invitee to Congress Working Committee (CWC), party’s highest decision making body. Clearly, his ambitions and talent remains under-utilised.
Jitin Prasad also didn’t see any reason in Congress stand on abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and even warned the party at CWC meet last year that the party’s stand will go against the sentiments of people on the ground.
He also voiced support for Narendra Modi’s concern about the population explosion in the country.
“It’s time to sensitise and make India aware of the need for population control/stabilisation. It has been the part of @INCIndia Panchmarhi shivir sakalp to work towards the goal of the two-child norm,” Prasada had tweeted.
It’s time to sensitise and make India aware of the need for Population control/stabilisation. It has been the part of @INCIndia Panchmarhi shivir sakalp to work towards the goal of the two child norm. #nationalinterest
— Jitin Prasada (@JitinPrasada) September 18, 2019
Sandeep Dikshit
Sandeep Dikshit, the son of late Sheila Dikshit, is a known Congress face but has largely remained cornered despite his mother’s rich legacy.
Dikshit, 55-year-old, has not been given his due for long. In Delhi assembly elections, this February, Dikshit was hardly involved in any decision-making or strategizing.