10 key takeaways from Prashant Kishor’s presentation
– Congress is in constant decline after 1985
Of the four main causes of this decline, is the natural disadvantage of being a legacy incumbent
Second cause: Four periods of organised mass dissent, starting with the JP Movement, Mandal Movement, Ram Mandir Movement and of course, the rise of PM Modi.
Third cause: Failure to capitalise on legacy and achievement. Interestingly, this includes PV Narasimha Rao in the line of illustrious Congress prime minister such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Fourth cause: Structural weaknesses & lack of connect with the masses
– Jaded & aged leadership. No structured pan-India membership drive in last 25 years
– Complete Disconnect with the Grassroots: INC’s last mass public outreach campaign was Rajiv Gandhi’s Bharat Yatra in 1990 No pan-India protest or agitational campaign that has lasted for more than 24 hours since 2014
Congress ceased working as a democratic organisation: Between 1885 & 1998, 61 presidents with average tenure of 1.85 years; from 1998 till present, 2 party presidents in 23 years
– Reincarnation of Congress
– Create a new Congress that is the political platform of choice for the masses
– Protect legacy, values and core principles
– Liberate from inertia, mediocrity, and status quo
– Destroy sense of entitlement, lack of accountability & sycophancy
– Conceal the immutable baggage of nepotism and corruption
– Connect with the masses, become their voice and capture their aspirations.
