Despite serious political disagreements, it is not uncommon for opposing party leaders to have cordial relations. But it is the public showing of such “friendships” that sets them apart from the rest.
A case in point is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s friendship with Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. The manner in which Azad recently lavished praise on Modi suggests that it’s more than just geniality at work.
When the PM first showed it during an emotional farewell to the Congress stalwart on his retirement from the Rajya Sabha, it was well-received. As the occasion demanded, Azad echoed the sentiments.
However, Azad’s praise for the Prime Minister in Jammu, coming just a day after a number of senior Congress leaders reiterated their call for a leadership change, sends a political message.
Azad, as one of the most senior members of the group of 23 Congressmen known as the “G23,” wants to carve out a niche for himself within the group and also tell the party that it must follow the advice of its “elders.”
This faction appears to be sending the message that marginalising the old guard would only damage the party’s interests.
By his actions, Azad has apparently sent a strong message to the Party High Command that if high-ranking leaders such as former Union ministers Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others can stand by his side even if he praises Modi, they can also take the extra mile and stand in complete defiance of leadership. He is gaining bargaining power inside Congress.
By praising Modi, Azad essentially consolidated his status within the dissenting party.
Modi must know what Azad is up to, as he is a smart politician.
With the Congressman’s old guard coming out against the leadership, it is clear that all is not well within the “Great Old Party.”
Moreover, the leaders of the G23 are seeking to remain active by raising the ante against the leadership of the party.
They don’t want to loosen their grip at the party.
The BJP has already split the way with many of its high-ranking leaders by forming a “Margdarshak Mandal” and these seniors are now only in advisory capacity and their advice is rarely taken into account.
The Congress Old Guard must be apprehensive of the same destiny. At least the restlessness, shown by these Congress leaders points to this line of thought. On the other hand, it would not suffice to blame the Gandhis alone for the electoral losses that the Congress has suffered in the past few years. It was a failure on the part of these veteran leaders also. However, whether these veterans would be successful in bringing about reforms in the party, saving their positions, influencing party decisions, increasing their bargaining power or will Rahul Gandhi give an opportunity to the youngsters to lead the party and gradually do away with the “rusted bolts”, only time will tell. Well, as we eagerly wait for what Modi or Azad say next on their bonhomie, we shall continue watching the high-voltage Congress drama.
