Begin typing your search above and press return to search.
Congress Looses Sheen For Ignoring Regional Leaders
By: Tupaki Desk | 14 May 2019 9:44 AM GMT
The Congress is a grand old party of 130-year history. Credited with bringing independence to India, the party has been in power for decades in Independent India. But, one thing has been dogging this party. The party has been suffering splits due to the neglect of strong regional leaders.The party, in its attempt to centralise the leadership, has ignored the regional leaders. These desertions have so much weakened the party that it cannot even claim the opposition status.
Interestingly, the parties that have been formed by splitting the Congress are better off. For instance in 2014 the Trinamool, which has split from the Congress, got 34 seats, while the Congress got just 44. In Andhra Pradesh, the Congress drew a zilch, while the YSRCP got 9 seats. The regional satraps did better than the mother party.
Let's just look at the splits that the Congress suffered.
In 1951, former party president JB Kripalani had split from the Congress to form Kisan Mazdoor Party. In 1956, C Rajagpalachary got separated from the Congress to form Indian National Democratic Party. In 2959, C Rajagopalachary and NG Ranga formed the Swatantra Party. Kerala Congress was formed in 1964 by KM George. In 1967, Ajoy Mukherjee formed Bangla Congress. In 1969, Biju Patnaik formed Utkal Congress Party.
1969 was a watershed year for the Congress has it had split into Congress I, led by Indira Gandhi, and Congress Old under Moraji-Nijalingappa and Kamraj. In 1977, Jagjivan Ram formed Congress for Democracy. In 1979, Devraj Urs formed Congress (Urs). In 1980, Ak Antony formed Congress (A). In 1986, Pranab Mukherjee walked out of the Congress to form Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress. In 1994, pro-Sonia faction led by ND Tiwary and Natwar Singh formed All India Indira Congress.
Till 1977, those who had split from the Congress were politically decimated and had to come back to re-join the Congress. From 1977 onwards, the Congress began ceding its primacy and became weak. The regional leaders parted company and floated their own regional parties like the Trinamool Congress of Mamta Banerjee in 1997, Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar in 1999, Congress Jananayaka Pravai of P Chidambaram in 2001, Naga People’s Front of Nepheiw Rio and YSR Congress of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2011.
From 1997, all those who got separated from the Congress have formed governments or relegated the Congress to third position. The only exception is Chidambaram’s Congress Jana Nayaka Peravai, which finally merged itself into the Congress. This happened because Chidambaram does not have a strong base for himself in Tamil Nadu.
The lesson is clear! Ignore strong regional leaders at your own peril!! Is the Congress listening??
Interestingly, the parties that have been formed by splitting the Congress are better off. For instance in 2014 the Trinamool, which has split from the Congress, got 34 seats, while the Congress got just 44. In Andhra Pradesh, the Congress drew a zilch, while the YSRCP got 9 seats. The regional satraps did better than the mother party.
Let's just look at the splits that the Congress suffered.
In 1951, former party president JB Kripalani had split from the Congress to form Kisan Mazdoor Party. In 1956, C Rajagpalachary got separated from the Congress to form Indian National Democratic Party. In 2959, C Rajagopalachary and NG Ranga formed the Swatantra Party. Kerala Congress was formed in 1964 by KM George. In 1967, Ajoy Mukherjee formed Bangla Congress. In 1969, Biju Patnaik formed Utkal Congress Party.
1969 was a watershed year for the Congress has it had split into Congress I, led by Indira Gandhi, and Congress Old under Moraji-Nijalingappa and Kamraj. In 1977, Jagjivan Ram formed Congress for Democracy. In 1979, Devraj Urs formed Congress (Urs). In 1980, Ak Antony formed Congress (A). In 1986, Pranab Mukherjee walked out of the Congress to form Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress. In 1994, pro-Sonia faction led by ND Tiwary and Natwar Singh formed All India Indira Congress.
Till 1977, those who had split from the Congress were politically decimated and had to come back to re-join the Congress. From 1977 onwards, the Congress began ceding its primacy and became weak. The regional leaders parted company and floated their own regional parties like the Trinamool Congress of Mamta Banerjee in 1997, Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar in 1999, Congress Jananayaka Pravai of P Chidambaram in 2001, Naga People’s Front of Nepheiw Rio and YSR Congress of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2011.
From 1997, all those who got separated from the Congress have formed governments or relegated the Congress to third position. The only exception is Chidambaram’s Congress Jana Nayaka Peravai, which finally merged itself into the Congress. This happened because Chidambaram does not have a strong base for himself in Tamil Nadu.
The lesson is clear! Ignore strong regional leaders at your own peril!! Is the Congress listening??
