Cong puts it in black & white: we lack idea, identity

This is a straight lift from a document (capital letters and all) prepared by senior leaders of the AICC. Titled, ‘Indian National Congress, Media Management & Poll Strategies,’ this document, a copy of which is with The Sunday Express, is a rare confession of what lies ahead for the party as it hits the road asking for votes.

The paper was discussed at a meeting on January 28, attended by senior leaders, including Jaipal Reddy, Ambika Soni, Jairam Ramesh and spokespersons of several state Congress units.

When asked about the weaknesses, especially the ‘‘lack of a defining idea,’’ mentioned in the document, AICC secretary Jairam Ramesh said: ‘‘Most of the Congress ideas have been hijacked by various parties, mainly the BJP, like economic reforms. That is because the first mover is always at a disadvantage. That’s the challenge before the Congress on how to counter that. That is what we mean by lack of defining idea and identity.’’

So Vajpayee’s stature is a problem for the party?

Said Ramesh: ‘‘Any party would be at a disadvantage pitted against Vajpayee, not because he is great but because he has a long track-record in politics and no one now remembers the flip-flops he made, on Modi, Cong finds idea, identity missing Ayodhya, Pakistan. How many remember that he was almost written off just two years back?’’

But acknowledging PM Vajpayee’s ‘‘stature,’’ the paper advocates a four-point poll strategy.

But maybe because that’s easier said than done, the paper has no specifics on what this agenda is or should be presented as. Instead, it lists steps towards what it calls ‘‘media management.’’ From arranging logistics to increasing access: ‘‘give major exclusive interviews,’’ hold ‘‘weekly meetings’’ with editors and Congress correspondents.

The ‘‘Single Big Idea,’’ as the document calls it, revolves around three key points: pitching for a ‘‘young united India’’ as its future, countering each claim of the India Shining campaign and to harp on the party’s record of ‘‘achievement in diplomacy and economics.’’ That the Congress has plans to operationalise these strategies was evident yesterday when party chief whip Priyaranjan Dasmunshi raised the issue of the government not paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on Martyrs’ Day in Lok Sabha.

Ditto, said the document: ‘‘Use special events to make a point (example Gandhi’s death anniversary).’’ Seeking to project the Congress as a young party, the paper suggests that ‘‘at least 10 young faces should be identified as Congress’ face.’’