BJP handed a ruthless drubbing to the Congress yet again in 2019 General Elections. Congress has miserably failed under the lacklustre leadership of its dullard president; who not only drove the Congress to the mud but also lost faith of its erstwhile allies.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s position as the numero uno of the party; especially after this resounding defeat looks highly untenable. However, the million dollar question remains about the alternatives in front of the “once” Grand Old Party.

Congress is the same party which once boasted of a president like Annie Besant who championed Hinduism. Congress needs to imbibe that spirit to bounce back to relevance in India’s current politics which has drifted towards Hindutva. Congress needs to counter BJP’s Hindutva politics with its brand of pluralistic Hinduism politics which Besant espoused.

After a study of some 40 years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect, none so scientific, none so philosophic, and none so spiritual, as the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. Make no mistake; without Hinduism, India has no future. Hinduism is the soil into which India’s roots are struck, and torn out of that, she will inevitably wither, as a tree torn out from its place. And if Hindus do not maintain Hinduism, who shall save it? If India’s own children do not cling to her faith, who shall guard it? India alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are one

Annie Wood Besant (October 1, 1847 – September 20, 1933)

Congress needs to do the following to stay anywhere close to being relevant in the coming years in Indian politics especially in the era of the unstoppable juggernaut of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

1. Congress needs to get rid of the Gandhi family who have become more of a liability than an asset now. Their only unique value proposition of being the glue to keep the Congress from splintering doesn’t hold water any more.
2. Get a strong credible candidate with a nationalist and independent mindset who doesn’t shy away from talking the uncomfortable truth and someone who demands respects from all quarters. Someone like Capt. Amarinder Singh fits into this profile.
3. Rebrand Congress as Swadeshi Congress and shed the infamous tag of the Minority appeasing party. Congress should stop pandering to minority votes and come out of its “vote-katao” mindset.
4. Get RSS ideologues in the Congress fold. RSS Sarsangchalak Mohan Bhagwat in his address last year clearly mentioned that RSS is open to providing help to those who demand from them. It is about time Congress does a reset on the way it looks RSS.

Net-net, It is only a Swadeshi Congress which can save the Congress becoming extinct in Indian politics.