In the article, "Re-inventing the Congress" (May 21), T N Ninan has correctly analysed the ills of the Congress and suggested remedial measures. Having suffered one electoral reversal after another since its 2009 Lok Sabha poll victory, the party has set up several committees to find the reasons for its defeats and suggest corrective action. But those reports are gathering dust.
Since 1947, the party leadership has never allowed any leaders. After 1947, regional satraps of the Congress either died or left it in frustration. Surrounded by a coterie, the Congress leadership became inaccessible to chief ministers from the party and state party presidents.
The coterie succeeded in creating an impression that the party would break up without dynastic leadership. The latter, in turn, created fear against dumping the old guard. But now that the dynastic leadership is facing charges of corruption it might become a liability for the party.
The time has come for Congress leaders to think out of the box to resurrect the party. The dynasty should realise its limitation and hand over control into safe hands.
N Ramamurthy, Chennai
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