'Leaders should have an unhindered connect with the party workers'

While the jury is still out on the political and electoral gains of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, it has undoubtedly been successful in highlighting some critical socio-political issues in the country. The need now is for similar yatras in states to highlight regional issues, the sorry state of Centre-state relations, and possible solutions. They can be apolitical or all-party efforts or even driven by the party. A viable electoral alliance in each state will also be necessary to keep up the momentum

The Congress organisation has often been accused of being bureaucratic. In or out of power, it is widely believed that access to the leadership is a problem for party workers and well-wishers.

Establishing a direct and regular connect with workers, public intellectuals, social influencers and other sections of society is important. Many people, perhaps a majority of those who wish the party well, may not be interested in electoral politics, but may wish to pitch in nevertheless with ideas or participate in social mobilisation or contribute in other meaningful ways. The organisation should be open to these ideas.

The immediate need is to strengthen the Congress and put it in a position where it can convince people that it can win 150-175 Lok Sabha seats on its own. Without convincing the Opposition of this, it is futile to expect them to accept the Congress as the fulcrum of Opposition unity.

The BJP is an election machine, bolstered by the ideological and cultural ideas of the RSS. Their affiliated bodies have made a deep impact on large sections of the population, which is why a political battle alone is not enough.

It is a battle that must be fought on multiple fronts, it must be fought culturally and at the policy level. Think tanks and institutions must also be drafted into this battle. Leaders must shed their arrogance while connecting with socio-cultural activists who oppose the ideology of the RSS and the BJP.

The pivots of the Congress’s alternative agenda for the country must be economic welfarism, a revival of small and medium businesses, a modernisation of agriculture besides robust and innovative cultural interventions.