Sachin Pilot, the Congress's Chhattisgarh in-charge and one of the few popular pan-India campaigners for the party, believes the 2024 battle is still wide open and the Narendra Modi government would struggle to reach the majority mark.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: Sachin Pilot is seen as a promising young talent in politics. The media has created an impression that Rahul Gandhi is incapable of managing young talent in Congress. They give examples of Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, R.P.N. Singh and Milind Deora. What’s the truth?

A: It’s unfair to blame the leadership. Everybody is free to choose one’s path. Everybody knows what suits them best. People will judge whether their decision was right or wrong. But the idea of the Congress, what it stands for... it stands for inclusive, secular, progressive, pluralist India. These cultural and constitutional values are best represented by the Congress party. We have seen successes and failures but the Congress as an idea is here to stay. People come, people go but the Congress as a mission will be forever. Our objective is not about one, two or five leaders. The Congress is very special to India.

Q: Most of these leaders joined the BJP. Everybody blames the Congress leadership for ignoring the lack of ideological convictions among these young leaders. Is ideology irrelevant for the younger generation?

A: It is wrong to judge the entire generation on the basis of a few examples. Ideological commitments are important. If you don’t believe in what you stand for, then you can’t fight for it. Struggle is a long road. One must be ready for it. We need the courage and willpower for struggle. Politics should not be personal; it must not be devoid of dignity. What we see is lots of acrimony, negativity. If there is a difference of opinion, we must be able to debate and discuss in a healthy atmosphere. A total of 146 MPs suspended in a single day doesn’t augur well for our democracy. All the institutions built over the last 60-70 years are systematically being hollowed out. Despite conflicting ideologies, we must preserve what we received from our forefathers. A sense of what the Indian nation stands for is critical for all generations of leaders.

Q: Has the loss in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh derailed the Congress's plan for the Lok Sabha elections?

A: We were expecting to do better. But our vote share has not come down. In Rajasthan, the difference is barely 2 per cent. Even in Chhattisgarh, we are very close. Only in Madhya Pradesh, the difference is significant — around 8 per cent. Our workers and leaders are not de-motivated. Maybe some local factors harmed us but we are confident of bouncing back.

Q: In the 2019 parliamentary elections, the Congress was wiped out in these states despite winning the Assembly elections. Do you hope to perform better this time?

A: Definitely. the Modi government has completed two terms and it must come forward with a report card, explaining why it could not fulfil its promises. The young population is facing the highest unemployment, farmers are in distress and high prices are biting the common man. Ten years of anti-incumbency will help the Congress. We have also been able to re-galvanise our forces.

Q: The Congress was relying on its welfare agenda and presented Rajasthan as its model state. Has the defeat in Rajasthan disturbed the party’s electoral narrative?

A: The Congress is a party that has a strong ideology; it’s progressive and futuristic. It has brought about all major changes in the country post-Independence; while we reformed the economy, we have always been conscious of our social obligations. The rights-based legislations bear testimony to that. We always believed there is a section of society that needs a helping hand. Welfare-ism has been an integral part of our politics.

Q: Modi has set the tone for the parliamentary election with an abnormal hype on the Ram temple. How will you counter that?

A: Ram is universal; we are not going to cede Ram to any outfit. The BJP’s agenda is to shift the focus from its failures on governance and delivery. We won’t allow the people’s real concerns to be brushed aside. This attempt by the BJP to monopolise Ram is wrong; religion and politics should be separate. Governments must work according to the Constitution.

Q: But that’s an academic formulation. The RSS-BJP has merged religion with politics. We have seen the Congress's inability to face the BJP on the battlefield of religion and nationalism.

A: History speaks for itself; the Congress doesn’t need lessons on nationalism from anyone. We led the freedom struggle and sacrificed our leaders to protect the nation. And religion is for home and heart, not for politics.

Q: Political language has changed in the last few years; we hear more about institutional capture, lack of freedom, ED-CBI, defections, arrests, electoral bonds, vendetta… has oppositional politics become difficult in this new ambience?

A: Attempts have been made to subvert democracy; the full force of the State is unleashed on anybody who dissents. Voices of political opponents have been squashed. We do see brute force in place of dialogue and normal politics. It is not that the Opposition is full of corrupt leaders and the ruling party has only noble people. Election funding, media, bureaucracy, key institutions… everything is serving the BJP. But we are convinced people of India are smart and they know what is right and what is wrong. We are absolutely confident the Opposition parties will together defeat the BJP. Whatever be the boastful claims, Modi will not be able to form the next government.