Power Politics is never a 'pre-set mechanised affair' ::: From Ukraine's Drone war to the state of agony in India's Congress party ... that's the theme

For Indian politics, it is easier to say - as always - let us keep the fingers crossed as Congressmen and women stand dazzled (or there breath taken away) in the desert of powerlessness. The agony in the Congress party started in 2014 or maybe even a few months before that. 

In early 2014, Jairam Ramesh was waiting for journalists and TV crew for one of the regular briefings and the turnout was poor. 

The previous evening message from his office also said that the press conference will be followed by lunch. Yet. 

Jairam had the political acumen. "Why like this ... have you people have given up on our government"? That was one of the first admissions in ministerial circle that the Modi wave has already swept India. 

Officially, the UPA and the Congress party kept denying. Nitish Kumar (then a hardcore anti-Modi champion of Sickularism) even used to say - "I don't see any wind, there is a blower behind from the media". 

first taste of nightmare for Congress : May 26, 2014 

Within weeks they saw what the country was thinking otherwise.  Since then it's a struglling opposition party. But most often it does not know when to opppose, how to oppose and perhaps more importantly - when not to oppose.

Even Salman Khurshid, who never had any major issues with dynastic push in the grand old party, is now compelled to put a tough question -- is it so difficult to be patriotic.

What a dig ! 

Four 'talented' Congress leaders Khurshid, Shashi Tharoor, Anand Sharma and Manish Tewari doing a yeoman's service vis-a-vis nationalism are today not in the good book of Rahul Gandhi and his team - incidentally also including our former Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh !  

Of course, India needs a vibrant opposition and it's a fact of life that despite numerous faults the Congress has the potentials of being one. But there is something missing.

We will talk more about Congress and the related shenanigans in a while. Let us take Ukraine now. 

"Ukraine's daring weekend drone attack on military bases deep inside Russia is a brilliant example of creativity and resolve," says American newspaper Wall Street Journal. 

Of course, it is clear that the raids left 'enough damage' for Russia. Importantly, the intelligence required to pull off the operation, supposedly in planning for 18 months, is also a reason for the Kremlin to be at discomfort.

Notably, the drone raids will not alter the course of the war that began in 2022 but they show the ability of Ukraine to strike far its border with Russia.

Vladmir Putin was left shell-shocked.  

The purpose here is not to compare Ukraine's situation with the Congress party in India. On its own merits; Ukraine's fresh drone attack sends important lessons to learn. Even the Modi government - now almost in a jubilant mood - has to be careful. 

The Ukraine model of smuggling drones inside India can be easily applied to any number of cities and towns of our country especially the few vulnerable states. These 'vulnerable states' are border states such as Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and also a few where the Chief Ministers have high ambitious and may do anything to push their Sickular agenda !! 

In a country where 'greed' for quick money to son's job is so tempting; the Jugadu circles can work against India anytime. 

It's good that the Government has at least made it clear that the Operation Sindoor is only "suspended". There is need to be extra vigilant in possible every thinkable and unthinkable paradigm.

 

There comes another lesson from Ukraine's drone attack episode. If the will to fight is worth something, then Ukraine has the mettle it is required.

This very element can be applied to any nation, any political party or even any individual.

On May 26th this year, the Modi government completed its 11 years in office.

One big achievement during this period (and we can relate this to 'fighting mettle') is the fact that in general there has been a scam-free stint. This is a big difference because 10 years before May 2014 -- was almost synonymous with corruption.

Grease the palm and get your works done was a norm, Now that is almost a thing of the past.  

There is a strong influence of 'unpredictability' with the Prime Minister's style of functioning and that is his asset on multiple fronts related to governance.  

Last 11 years saw quite a success story in terms of welfare measures - from providing gas cylinders to toilets, push for good roads, improvement in railways etc. 

Finally with regard to the Congress yet again. 

Post-Operation Sindoor; the worst setting for a near suicidal reality (stage) for the Congress was provided by the way the party started ridiculing the seven parliamentary delegations including their own four MPs.

Tharoor - Can he go for bigger canvas ?

Any other party under a smart leader would have taken all credit for the 'Vajpayee' type role undertaken by Shashi Tharoor - who was in effect encouraged to join Congress by Sonia Gandhi. 

The fact that even Salman Khurshid is unhappy shows the good old coterie culture has captured Rahul Gandhi. His father Rajiv Gandhi too was victim of that.

Salman Khurshid 

Even from the BJP's team of delegation members -we have someone called S S Ahluwalia - once a Congressman and a member of shouting brigade for Rajiv during the story debate on Bofors. 

But as the saying goes --- the Congress is in a state of 'sickness' perhaps resulting from some snake bites. There is no healer around.

Tharoor and his team members may get summons or show cause notices. What will they do on their part?

In 2022-23 none had imagined NCP led by its stalwart Sharad Pawar or the Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray's on could be split. 

Can that model applied at the national level? Tharoor has already shown an intent of becoming Congress president and he can think big -- like most creative people only try to think and do. 

ends