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CoverStory
Joint rallies by Rahul
and Priyanka Gandhi
are attracting
huge crowds
this concept. Dynasties demolish organisational The sTaTe of The Congress
structures. They are unable to attract leaders of talent The Congress Party has been out of power for five
or mass following. Since the democratic structure of a years. Its leaders and workers are accustomed to ex-
dynastic party gets diminished, they become a crowd isting with the frills of office. They stare at another
around a family. possible defeat. They have to live with their leader
Chaudhary Charan Singh had very appropriately not relying on political advisors but on some from
said that world over parties elect leaders. In India, ‘non-conventional’ ones who are out of sync with
leaders create parties. Wherever the leader goes, the the Congress leaders.
party travels with him. Since the last word on any issue belongs to the lead-
Dynastic parties have one major drawback. If the er, there is an element of unpredictability. For those
current generation of the party is competent, char- familiar with the Congress leaders, some generic
ismatic and enjoys popular confidence, the dynasty statements are frequently heard. A few illustrative
can pull-off major victories. There is an incentive in ones are mentioned here:
the party to rally behind him. However, if the current “What can I do? He just doesn’t listen.”
generation dynast is lacking in charisma, understand- “Wait for the 24th of May, our politics will begin
ing and popular confidence, the crowd around the thereafter.”
family gets increasingly frustrated. Is the Congress “I feel like quitting”
Party witnessing that? “Our campaign planning is lagging behind. I am told
tehelka / 30 april 2019 16 www.tehelka.com
