Transparency in Congress Presidential Poll Proves its Inner Democracy

Dwijendra Tripathi, a veteran Congressman from Uttar Pradesh, says that the new party president will take decisions guided by his own discretion and conscience

The decision by the Gandhi family to hold election for the post of Congress president has been taken to strengthen the inner democracy in the party. And if you notice the recent developments, you will find that the entire process is being carried out by the rulebook in the most transparent manner.

The party leadership made it clear that it had no favourite candidate and anyone was free to run for the post, as per the party constitution. Of the two candidates in the fray – Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge – neither could be termed as the blue eyed boy of the Gandhi family. There was no pressure on anyone to withdraw his candidature and allow the party president be elected unopposed.

Now look at the decision of Madhusudan Mistry, the chairman of the central election authority, who issued a circular asking for the resignation of party office bearers who wish to be involved in the campaigning of either of the candidate. Three party spokespersons, Deepender Hooda, Syed Hussain and Gourav Vallabh resigned from their party posts as they supported Kharge and are campaigning for him.

This clearly establishes the transparency in the organisational elections. This is a sharp rebuttal to the national BJP leaders who never leave a chance to label Congress party as a dynasty. Gandhi family is a glue that binds the party together, not a feudal dynasty which rules over the Congress. The lies being spread by the BJP now stand exposed. The working president Sonia Gandhi has upheld the democratic principles in holding the elections.

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It is this inner democracy that gives strength to the party workers that the new party president – be it Tharoor or Kharge – will take decisions in the interest of the party independently. Of course, the guidance and sway of the Gandhi family in the party remains unquestioned.

I am confident that once the new president assumes office, visible changes will take place through collective will in a democratic way, not by one individual. On the recent resolutions being passed by various state units seeking Rahul Gandhi as the party president, every party worker is free to express his or her feelings in a democratic setup.

Yes, there was an unsavoury incident in Rajasthan when loyalists of state chief minister Ashok Gehlot tried to create a ruckus. But that matter was amicably resolved when Mr Gehlot withdrew his candidature and sought forgiveness from the working president.

Barring this distasteful incident, the election process has been most fair and transparent. And I have a feeling that once the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra concludes, an exemplary decision will be taken over the internal squabble in Rajasthan unit that will send a strong message to the party cadre.

As told to Rajat Rai