The Transformation of Congress: How Civil Society Ideologues Are Reshaping India's Oldest Political Party

The grand old party of India is experiencing a significant ideological transformation from within. Currently, three competing philosophical strands exist within the Congress: the traditional Nehruvian socialist-secular ideology, the 1991 'LPG' (Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation) approach, and a civil society-oriented political philosophy that advocates for greater individual freedom to organize without state interference, while maintaining adherence to public justice principles.

Remarkably, this third ideological position gained prominence during Sonia Gandhi's UPA era through the National Advisory Council. Today, under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, it has flourished and largely taken control of the party structure. The civil society advocates, who identify themselves as the 'Jai Jagat' group, have established a visible presence within the party. They maintain close relationships with Rahul Gandhi, functioning as the opposition leader's trusted advisors, occupying several key positions, and now seeking Rajya Sabha memberships.

Lateral recruitment, modest living standards, and lofty principles characterize the 'Jai Jagat' group, though seasoned Congress veterans present a different perspective on these individuals. According to experienced party members, the minimalist lifestyle is merely a facade designed to impress Rahul Gandhi. Within Congress's internal politics, anecdotes about diet soda, bicycles, and train journeys are circulating widely. Reportedly, an AICC functionary who serves as in-charge of a Congress-ruled state appeared unfamiliar when offered a 'Diet Coke' by Rahul Gandhi. As she struggled to open the can, Rahul observed with amusement before assisting her, seemingly impressed by her frugal lifestyle that suggested unfamiliarity with such conveniences. The same official reportedly prefers train travel even for journeys requiring 21-29 hours between Delhi and Hyderabad. Another party leader shares this austere approach to life. Furthermore, two of Rahul's most trusted aides holding significant positions in the AICC secretariat apparently don't own automobiles, choosing instead to bicycle to work.

The Jai Jagat group has reportedly secured control over several influential positions, including responsibility for key states and important organizational roles. They are now allegedly targeting the office of AICC general secretary in-charge of organization, currently held by KC Venugopal.

In substantive terms, Congress insiders highlight the ascent of Shashikant Senthil, a former IAS officer. Senthil served in the civil service until 2019 when, similar to Kannan Gopinathan, he resigned following the abrogation of Article 370 and the Modi government's implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. After his resignation, Senthil briefly collaborated with various NGOs before formally joining the Congress Party. Known for being unassuming, compassionate, and exceptionally patient, Senthil explained in his 2019 resignation letter that he found it unethical to continue as a civil servant when the fundamental elements of India's diverse democracy were being compromised in unprecedented ways. He expressed his belief that the coming period would present serious challenges to the nation's basic fabric, and he could better contribute outside the IAS.

In multiple interviews, Senthil stated that he viewed his resignation as an act of patriotism, asserting that remaining silent when fascism emerges constitutes treason.

Today, Senthil's political advancement has been remarkable. He directs the AICC's central war room at 17, Gurudwara Rakabgunj Road in New Delhi, planning and strategizing for numerous elections. His team includes Shashank, Saurabh Bajpai, Rajesh, and several others with civil society backgrounds. Senthil's prominence grew during the 2023 Karnataka state assembly elections when even Rahul Gandhi and DK Shivakumar would visit his office to discuss electoral strategies. He later relocated to Rajasthan during its 2023 state assembly elections, where top party leadership again regularly consulted with him. Senthil reportedly contributed to Congress's success in the Telangana assembly elections. Currently, he plans to establish 'connect centres' or state war rooms, with many party members eager to join 'Team Senthil'. The preference for 'outsiders' rather than considering years of party service represents a significant shift.

Congress leaders note that during the UPA years (2004-2014), the GRG war room functioned as a hub for established leaders like Ambika Soni, Jairam Ramesh, Ahmed Patel, and Suresh Pachauri, with access strictly limited to proven party figures. Currently, most traditional Congress members have minimal awareness of the activities within the GRG war room.

As Hendrik Hertzberg once remarked, "A political ideology is a very handy thing to have. It's a real time-saver, because it tells you what you think about things you know nothing about." Since 2014, consecutive defeats in Lok Sabha and most assembly elections have shaken Congress's self-confidence and ideological convictions.

Historically, Congress's attempts to blend religion with politics have been problematic. A significant contradiction existed between Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India's first Prime Minister, and Mahatma Gandhi regarding their perspectives on religion and politics. For Gandhi, religion was integral to secularism. Despite agreeing with his disciple Nehru on various issues, Gandhi believed the Nehruvian secular approach would be ineffective for India. "Politics bereft of religion" is "absolute dirt," Gandhi frequently stated.

However, Nehru maintained a firm definition of secularism that involved separating religion from political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of life. In Nehru's view, religion was a personal matter that the state should completely dissociate from. In a 1953 letter to Home Minister Kailashnath Katju, Nehru wrote, "The fate of India is largely tied up with the Hindu outlook. If the present Hindu outlook does not change radically, I am quite sure that India is doomed."

In September 1951, Nehru orchestrated the resignation of all CWC members from Purushottam Das Tandon's team, effectively forcing Tandon, a right-wing Congress president, to step down. After becoming Congress president following Tandon's resignation, Nehru articulated the party's secular foundation at a Gandhi Jayanti gathering at Ram Lila grounds in 1951, declaring, "If any man raises his hand against another in the name of religion, I shall fight him till the last breath of my life, whether from within the government or outside."

Nevertheless, contrary to common perception, Congress still considers itself a pro-Hindu party. When Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, she attempted to cultivate support from the majority community and accepted an invitation to launch the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's 'Ekatmata Yatra'. The VHP was then an emerging organization, and such mass-contact initiatives had potential to tap into religious sentiments and mobilize favorable opinion.

According to bureaucrat and author S.S. Gill, Indira's final term as Prime Minister showed a lack of social concern for Muslims. This was indicated by CM Stephen, an Indira loyalist. In his book, "The Dynasty - A Political Biography of The Premier Ruling Family of Modern India" (1996), Gill quotes Stephen's 1983 declaration that "The wave-length of Hindu culture and the Congress culture is the same."

A clear articulation of the party's stance on secularism came from VN Gadgil, the late Congress ideologue who served as AICC spokesperson during the Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri administrations. Gadgil and Narasimha Rao had prepared a theme for a Congress conclave raising several provocative questions about uniform civil code, the Shah Bano judgment reversal, Article 370, religious demographics and family planning, disparities in facilities for religious pilgrims, secularism in Muslim countries, objections to "Vande Mataram," Muslim identity in India versus other countries, and missionary activities.

Amid these increasingly heated debates in the Narendra Modi era, the integration and consolidation of civil society ideology through the 'Jai Jagat' group perhaps offers the Congress leadership a convenient means to avoid addressing fundamental ideological questions. After all, incorporating voluntary, non-governmental organizations that bridge the gap between citizens and state by encouraging participation, promoting accountability, and facilitating dialogue provides a more flexible platform than taking definitive positions on questions about 'majoritarianism' and the party's own ideological identity.

(Rasheed Kidwai is an author, columnist and conversation curator)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author