While Narendra Modi won a landslide victory in the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi was defeated in his stronghold Amethi. Congress won 50 seats as against BJP’s 300 seats. Rahul Gandhi will sit in Parliament now because he has won the election from Wayanad, the second seat in Kerala. Does this position of Congress indicate that the Gandhi dynasty is about to end in Indian politics? Perhaps this evidence points in this direction –
1. Happened in Amethi –
It is believed that whoever conquers Uttar Pradesh rules the country. Amethi seat was a battle of prestige. This is the place from where his father Rajiv Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi fought and won. He himself handled it for 15 years. He had sent an emotional letter to every house in Amethi with the address ‘My Amethi Family’. At that place he was defeated by a high profile actress Smriti Irani. People were not expecting the victory of Congress but they are shocked by the result of Amethi and are asking whether the Gandhi era is over?
2. Disappointing performance –
Due to the disappointing performance of Congress, fingers are being raised on the leadership of Mr. Gandhi. Many analysts are already demanding changes in the Congress party. The election results of 2019 are announcing the failure of Congress. There is news that in Delhi Mr Gandhi had proposed to step down. On this subject, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar says that Congress will not question his leadership nor accept his resignation.
3. Party’s plight-
According to Lucknow’s local party spokesperson, Brijendra Kumar Singh, the problem was not with Gandhi’s power but with the plight of the party. The party structure was weak. People were busy getting established in the post. Whatever efforts the party made were unsuccessful. Efforts for alliance especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. This defeat should not be considered a defeat of Rahul but of the party strategy.
4. Weak campaigns and options –
The 2019 elections were Congress’s worst political performance. The Congress rivals who were facing the BJP had lost their confidence. He did not expect to win. The public did not believe the Congress manifesto. The announcement of giving Rs 72,000 per year to every poor family became a joke. The future victory promised by Mr Gandhi was but a pipe dream for disillusioned party workers. And Congress stalwarts were defeated in front of Modi wave.
5. Personality Contest –
Many Congressmen accept that Rahul Gandhi lost the contest because of his invincible personality. The biggest obstacle in his path was Brand Modi. Even though Modi failed to fulfill all the promises made in the last election, he is still able to make people understand his government’s policy. This is not the first time that Mr Gandhi has faced such a defeat, he had faced defeat in 2014 also. After this, his party also lost the elections in many states. He proved to be an outspoken and outspoken leader even on social media. His words came back and attacked him.
6. Distrust of voters –
The golden name of the Gandhi family has become tarnished over the years. Voters have lost faith in Congress. Especially for urban voters and youth, Nehru and Indira Gandhi are a forgotten story of the past. His contribution to Indian politics was not relevant. Voters remember the time of Congress rule from 2004 to 2014 when Congress was immersed in corruption and controversy. And Rahul Gandhi failed to change the minds of voters.
7. Ideology of Congress –
For a long time, some Congressmen have been of the view that the Gandhi dynasty should be succeeded by Priyanka Gandhi instead of Rahul Gandhi. She may prove to be a replica of Indira Gandhi. It is believed that brothers and sisters are close and cannot be against each other. However, Priyanka Gandhi had proved in a few days of campaigning that the direction of the wind can be changed.
On the basis of all this evidence, it can be said that in reality the 2019 elections are a major failure of the Congress, which can wipe it out. But according to Congressmen, in 1984 the BJP was on only two seats. If it can make a comeback then why not Congress and Gandhi family.