Congress has decided to revive the Indira Gandhi legacy with a vengeance. It plans campaigns across the country and even during campaigning for UP elections , Indira and her politics would be used extensively. Strange for a party which wants to move on to the next generation awaiting Rahul Gandhi as the next party president.
Even stranger because while other parties are trying to break away from the old guard to let the young take over as in Samajwadi party.
But Modi's constant rebuke of the Nehru-Gandhi legacy, his attack on both Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi and promotion of Sardar Patel , has made it bring the Indira legacy on in an aggressive manner.
But the real reason lies in the harsh reality which Congress has seen . Poor organisation , dodgy leadership and a reluctant Rahul has left a huge leadership vacuum within the Congress . It has yet to find someone who can match the bold and charismatic persona of Modi . Indira Gandhi seems the best bet .
Says senior journalist and author of 24 Akbar Road Rasheed Kidwai " In uncertain times, Congress is looking for certainty. Indira was a success story who overcame adversity."
In fact, it's this attempt at portraying a tough Congress and its need to fall back on Indira which also explains the rising demand for Priyanka . Priyanka is a splitting image of Indira and she is believed to have the same fire which Indira had . And hence, in her, Congressmen see their only hope .
But there are dangers in going back to the past . Or even in window dressing Priyanka in the Indira mould . When Modi frequently invokes Sardar Patel, it doesn't look like going back to the past . Modi himself comes across as the iron man.
The Congress leadership, however, today doesn't . Says Rasheed " Truth is that both Sonia and Rahul have been trustees of power than those wielding power...this is something Congressmen are unwilling to realise"
But this move to go back to Indira legacy has its share of problems . Congress needs a coup where the change to Generation X is brought soon . Congress also needs to realise that today's generation hasn't seen the Independence struggle and would find it difficult to associate with the Indira legacy .
As a young leader, not wanting to be named, said " We can't move ahead if we go back "
And if Congress wants to move on then and Rahul wants to take over , Indira legacy would soon have to be used less and less .
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