It is a difficult period for the Congress party. The party not only failed in election but also fell short of even winning enough seats, 10% seats, to become leader of the opposition. It is not easy in politics to fail because the party high command has to bear the brunt of it squarely. Ever since the election results came out Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were bearing the silent accusations of party workers for the dismal failure of the party, especially the young Rahul Gandhi, who the party workers expected to bring in victory against all odds.
The reason for the dismal performance of the party was obvious. The Congress party was at the helm of the Government for the last ten years and the incumbency factor along with price rise and corruption charges had reduced much of the shine of the Government before the public. No one could have changed the attitude of the people by any length of speech or party work.
There is a perception among the Congress workers that if Sri Rahul Gandhi were more spirited, things would not have come to such a pass. It is a wrong perception. When a party is in power for a decade people do get fed up with it and Rahall Gandhi can do little against the people’s desire for a change and he was the vice President of the party too. If he was a new face in the Party he would have had a fighting chance. It is, therefore, not a verdict against Rahul Gandhi.
One other perception of the party workers that Priyanka Gandhi could have brought the party to victory is also not on reason as the factor of incumbency is still there.
Sri Rahul Gandhi is young and he has ample chances to try his hand at administration. In the meanwhile, as Emperor Marcus Aurelius said let him live his life on his own terms.
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