Change with continuity ” rather than the other way around ”emerged as the theme of the Congress chintan shivir in Jaipur. It was evidentin Rahul Gandhi harking back to Mahatma Gandhi even while declaring that ayoung and impatient India wanted freedom from a political system stuck in thepast. The new Congress vice president (and in all likelihood, its primeministerial nominee in 2014) made it clear that he stood for change butremained rooted in the Gandhian ethos.
The party is wedded to its pro-poor image and giving voiceto the "aam aadmi"- but the definition of the common man has changed,to include the urban, educated middle class. The welfare approach of thegovernment will continue, even as the prime minister takes "hard"economic decisions which might impact the common man.
Interestingly, while praising the government for itsaccomplishments, he distanced himself from its failings by attacking hypocrisyand corruption. In operational terms, he will take over wider executivefunctions, with the party's overall direction and policy being shaped byCongress president Sonia Gandhi.
If the disconnect between party and government in terms ofeconomic policy was evident at the shivir -- as Mani Shankar Aiyer observed, sowas the disconnect between the youth brigade and the party veterans. The formerwere in celebratory mode, the latter subdued.
The new found cockiness of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC)and National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the party's young foundexpression in predictions of sweeping changes in the party organisation. Buoyedby the importance and representation given to youth at the shivir and in theCongress president's speech, they are clearly looking forward to a bigger shareof party posts and tickets. Virtually every "young" minister in theparty said the party organisation would now be recast to give greaterrepresentation to youth and women.
In response, an older minister quipped, "In theCongress, 70 is the new 40! Everyone is young". Party veteransacknowledged that there would be changes, in terms of party structure andpersonnel, but these would not be abrupt. Implicit in Rahul's new designation -vice president rather than working president - is that Sonia Gandhi willcontinue to play a hands on role, rather than that of a patron.
What is generally expected is that a business as usualattitude may not serve, with the young Gandhi insisting on more corporate stylefunctioning by setting goals and targets and demanding accountability fromparty office-bearers. Rhetoric and sycophancy may no longer be a substitute fordelivery.
The faces who occupied the dais at the Congress chintanshivir - the old guard - did not appear overtly worried. As a minister pointedout, Rahul Gandhi was already the acknowledged number two. He was bound to playa pivotal role at some point and with elections 15 months away, it could nothave been further delayed.
in association with Governance Now
