A few days ago, all eyes were on the Congress party's management of its top two leaders in Karnataka, especially after the party was unable to implement the rotational chief minister formula in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Siddaramaiah stepped down smoothly, giving way to D.K. Shivakumar to become the new chief minister after three years of heading the government.
This came after the high command's authority appeared eroded, with many in the Congress rank and file believing that the party's top decision makers did not keep their promises in Chhattisgarh with T.S. Singh Deo and were unsuccessful in replacing Ashok Gehlot with Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan. Governments in both states completed their tenure without giving the second-in-line an opportunity. Although the same was expected in Karnataka, the party made a big decision, without a hint of trouble.
"The recent transition has better placed Congress to make bigger decisions, as the message has gone out that the Congress high command made a decision and Siddaramaiah, a powerful and one of Karnataka's longest-serving chief ministers, listened and complied. Now everyone has an instance to follow, and believe that high command has become powerful," a senior Congress leader said.
The biggest direct message, according to political analysts, may be for Haryana, where Bhupinder Singh Hooda, despite leading the party to three consecutive defeats, has shown little willingness to step aside even as the high command seeks to groom a second line of leadership. Rahul Gandhi has already backed bureaucrat-turned-politician Brijendra Singh, who is expected to gradually build his own clout within the state unit and among the public.
Also, political analysts believe the Karnataka decision has sent a broader message for workers and the rank and file to see that their interests are best advanced when they align with the Congress high command rather than with any particular state leader. There is a message for dissenting state leaders too, suggesting that they do not go against the wishes of the party’s central leadership.
But to keep the party in momentum, the high command will need to make consistent decisions wherever needed to keep them motivated and demonstrate that opportunities for advancement exist within the party.
Congress leaders argue that the party has increasingly listened to wider sentiment while making decisions rather than relying solely on unilateral choices, like in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. "In the past year, a lot has changed; a lot of decisions were taken which may help the party build a layer of leaders who will give it enthusiasm during the elections. And it is expected that the emboldened Congress will take more key decisions in the coming time," a senior Congress leader said.
Again, if a Karnataka-like alignment and peaceful transition take place in faction-ridden Punjab, where elections are scheduled for next year, and where organisational changes are also expected, Congress leaders believe the high command will continue to strengthen its authority and be better positioned to take major decisions before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
