Wise words have meaning only when they result in action. The Congress does not seem to have made that connection. Had it done so, then the party’s nominations for the Rajya Sabha would have reflected the promise held out by the Chintan Shivir in Udaipur. Not only do these show a lack of interest in the opinions of Congress members in the states but also a bland refusal to acknowledge past mistakes. Imposing candidates from above upon unwilling state party units cost the Congress dear earlier; this is happening again. It might be expected that a party reduced to governing two states, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, when once it governed the whole of India, would pay especial attention to the wishes of the leaders and cadre in those states. But in Rajasthan, the Rajya Sabha candidates are from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Worse, the nominees from Haryana and Maharashtra will not be tolerated in their own states, but the Congress leadership still wishes to reward them. One example is enough to show that political logic and good political management are of no account. Chhattisgarh, instead of getting a tribal candidate — natural for a tribal state — has got one from UP and one from Bihar. The Congress’s unrequited love for UP has resulted in a third candidate from the state, gifted to a restive Maharashtra unit.

The G-23’s demand for sweeping changes has had no result, neither have the calls for consultative process. No one from the centre of power bothered to ask the state units what they wanted. The anger of the state units is directed towards the interim president and her two children — they are perceived as the fount of all decisions. It is as though the leadership has its eyes squeezed shut two years before the Lok Sabha elections. Even the steady departure of leaders to other parties or as Independent candidates has not forced them open. The failure to change its manner of functioning and correct the flaws of leadership is tragic not for the party alone but for the country. Only the Congress can take on the Bharatiya Janata Party everywhere in India unlike anti-BJP regional parties which are limited to their states. The Congress leadership is evidently unaware or uncaring of that responsibility.