Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SP)
New Delhi, Oct 8: Congress party, which has slid down the popularity scale after running the union government for decades, seems to be facing reverses one after the other. Specifically, Narendra Modi - Amit Shah combination appears to have succeeded in shadowing the Congress and conquering new territories for the BJP.
After a brief stint, Rahul Gandhi resigned as the party went from bad to worse during his tenure. Now Sonia Gandhi is at the helm, and the party high command had drawn up a strategy to buoy the party's performance in the election.
Sonia Gandhi (left) and Rahul Gandhi
It has been evident that the party's stand in seeking proof of surgical strike, demanding evidence of air strike, and recent comment of Rahul Gandhi about Kashmir which Pakistan used to oppose India at the United Nations, have all gone against the Congress. The party, it appears, has failed to project its firm stand on issues like nationalism and security of the country.
The Congress leaders have noted that the BJP has been harping on nationalism, security of the country, army, and soldiers. At the same time, Congress leaders used to face debacle due to internal conflicts and disputed statements issued by its leaders.
The Congress high command, it is learnt, now wants to project the party as the one with strong nationalist beliefs. It is learnt that the high command plans to provide training to party leaders on the issue of nationalism at national, state, block, and district levels. It is learnt that the party has finalized this issue during the meeting of Congress state presidents and party's people's representatives held during September this year.
The party wants to bank on the leading role the party played in freedom struggle, and its achievements when ruling the country, contributions made by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, crushing defeat inflicted on Pakistan in the 1971 war and dividing Pakistan by separating Bangladesh due to the tactics used by Indira Gandhi etc to impress the electorate about the nationalist credentials of the party.