This refers to the editorial “Family plots” (February 25). As a democracy, India needs an effective and responsible Opposition. Only the Congress can play this role at the national level. A coalition of disparate regional parties cannot perform this function. With its long history of leading the country towards freedom, playing an active role during the freedom struggle and nurturing India as a democracy, the Congress still has this important responsibility to be an effective Opposition.
Till the late sixties, it was the states that would send leaders to the Centre such as the late S Nijalingappa, K Kamraj or Morarji