Washing line opens to wash stains of Congress

Arun Srivastava

Routs of recent assembly elections forced the Congress to field their top guns along with party’s vice president Rahul Gandhi to clean the blemish and tarnish image of non decisive and non performing government led by Dr Manmohan Singh. India Inc address in Ficci’s annual general meeting(AGM) by Rahul has not come unplanned but is the part of well thought and planned strategy of team of Congress vice president. Inspired by Aam Admi party’s strategy to reach out common people, not only the BJP but Congress has also folded its sleeves for programs which involve participation of common voters. Along with Rahul many more cabinet ministers, who are also part of Congress' war room will also go with team Rahul to masses in the coming months. It seems that government and party have come out with chalked strategy after the drubbing defeat in last elections to remove the stain of non performance says a source which also supports my theory. Party is in hurry to come up with a new image some thing like it had acquired in 2009 general election.

Congress has been trying hard to get support of India Inc which has shown the tilt towards Narendra Modi, prime ministerial candidate of BJP in recent months. The positive decisions of Gujarat government have given thumping support of almost all big houses of industries to Modi. Infact it is India Inc which originally had backed the name of Modi first time to country’s top post few years back. Initially Congress was reluctant to buy the theory of backing of business world to BJP’s candidate as it has cordial relations with many top names of industrial houses since independence.

Sudden roll of head of minister of Forest and Environment ministry before the address of Rahul to AGM of FICCI was a clear indication to members of India Inc. Many members have personally complained to Congress vice president in the past about the hurdle placed by ministry of Jayanthi Natrajan. Mention of decisions of Chief Ministers and that of environment ministry in Rahul’s speech were seen as the clear signal to those persons who also were seen as violin by the business houses.

Head of Jayanthi Natrajan is not the only one but many more are being predicted to roll down in the coming days by political pundits. Jayram Ramesh, Sachin Poitet, Gulam Nabi Azad and Jitendra Singh  are few names whose resignations are being planned to come forward in coming days.

Not only leaders of party but many top bureaucrats who are supposed to be near of Congress camp, are also being asked to use public platforms to help to disseminate the positive works of UPA and to erase the negative images. Participation of  Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth, Department of Industrial policy and promotion’s secretary Subhash Chandra and Petrolium and natural gas’ secretary Vivek rai in one of penal discussion of Ficci organized on the occasion of AGM is an example of this directive. In a bid to build positive image Seth had elaborated the decisions taken by government for the help of industries in last few months. In fact Rai and Chandra had accused the media and opposition parties for giving undue interest to non performance of government. Chandra had bitterly criticized to the reports of apathy of foreign investors towards Indian story. Investments have been coming to India despite the negative sentiments prevails in foreign country he told the members of panel members.

Party and its sympathetic bureaucrats have been fighting the perceptions of common man of streets. Negative perceptions built up due to so many scams and inflation have created a jolt and uproar in the top echelons of party. They have sensed the writing on the wall, but up to what extent Rahul and his team will be able to generate a positive feel in voters who are already shown its intention, have to be seen in coming days.