Will Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra be successful?

When old Bollywood formula of periodical, drama, action and remake did not work, they launched a Brahmastra (movie). People enjoyed the film, despite not so great dialogues. We did not understand where this Rs410 crores of the budget went, but people seem to be liking the movie – boycott gang have failed.

Like Bollywood, Rahul Gandhi also tried various looks and styles, but none worked, relaunch after relaunch only to be disappointed. Did not translate to election result, so Congress returned back to the basics.

Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, Congress is on a 150 days long nationwide Yatra – a ‘non-political’ movement to unite the country. But, there is nothing non-political in politics. Congress is trying to reclaim its lost place in the politics while BJP is struggling. BJP’s opposition Congress has sprung into action all of a sudden, which is not ideal for the ruling party.

Thus, BJP either points out Rahul Gandhi’s expensive t-shirt, or AC cabins or fire on shorts poster. Sambhit Patra said that this is not yatra to unite, but to break. How does Sambhit Patra know that? Did Yatra by Advani divide the country?

More importantly, does Yatra aim to achieve anything apart from publicity? Will it benefit politically, in the election results? This is what we shall unveil in this article!

Will Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra be successful? — **Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra**

Drawing inspiration from his namesake Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March in 1930, Rahul Gandhi aims to repeat that feat. It was a 385 km Yatra from Sabarmati to Dandi – once they arrived at the shore, they made their own salt which was a crime then. After that, the salt law was broken and once again people started making their own salt in the country. This was followed by the Satyagraha, and Gandhi became a nationwide figure – a movement that was hugely successful in ousting the British, and resulting in the independence in 1947.

Even Godse bhakts will agree to a connection between the freedom struggle and Yatra. Will this Yatra by Rahul Gandhi achieve the same glory as Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March or Satyagraha? Can it revive Congress the party?

To comprehend this, let’s learn about the Yatras after independence and what the outcome of those Yatras was –

A social movement by Acharya Vinoba Bhave is well known – a Yatra to request zamindari(landlords) to donate land for farming. 13 years long Yatra, over 60,000 km walked, acquiring about 44 lakh acre land for the poor in the process – this was a very successful Yatra.
1983 Janata Party started their Yatra under Chandra Shekhar, the day they came to power in Karnataka. It was 6 months long for them to know the country in a better way. Indira Gandhi was taken aback by the scale of this Yatra, as per Chandra Shekhar, who also became a Prime Minister later on.
After Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Rajiv Gandhi won, and he started Congress Sandesh Yatra – an attempt to weaken the Janata Party. In 1989, however, Congress faced defeat.
In 1990, another Yatra initiated by Congress – in second class railway coach with slogan: Aadhi roti khayenge Rajiv sarkar banayenge (We will have half a roti, and build a Rajiv Gandhi government). But the public was like, “Why will we have half a roti? We shall have the full roti.” And, anyway, traveling by second class did not work well as the train got delayed time and time again – Congress lost again. This Rajiv Gandhi Yatra was considered a flop, because there was only symbolism, but not substance.

Can son Rahul improve upon father Rajiv Gandhi’s mistakes? Will this Yatra have substance and not just a photo opportunity? We will learn about it, but let’s first recall a masterstroke Yatra–

BJP supported Janata Party in forming the government. Advani ji took the opportunity to start the Yatra for Ram Mandir. On a modified air conditioned truck, Advani ji led the Yatra and created an atmosphere that benefits BJP till this date – started from Somnath but was arrested in Bihar. The party may have forgotten Advani ji but not the arrest; Lalu Prasad Yadav is still paying for it. This Yatra has had the most impact and success in Indian politics – Babri Masjid demolition, BJP coming to power, and religious politics.

Yatras also happened at regional level for example by Rajasekhara Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, 2003. He became the Chief Minister in 2004. Inspired, his son Jagan Reddy also went on a Yatra, 3000 km long Praja Sankalpa Padyatra, he became the chief Minister in 2019. Mamta Banerjee is also a padyatra specialist – this time it was ‘a wheelchair Yatra’ which resulted in election victory.

So, there is not an ounce of doubt that, as Brahmastra,2022 (movie) is important for regaining the status of Bollywood, this Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite Bharat march) is a vital step in Congress history. People are loving this initiative initially, yet let’s see what happens in the coming days. If Rahul does not leave for Bangkok and actually walks for 150 days, then this Yatrawill impact politics well.

“Like Bollywood, Rahul Gandhi also tried various looks and styles, but none worked, relaunch after relaunch only to be disappointed. Did not translate to election result, so Congress returned back to the basics.”

Initial success of this Yatra can be judged by the fact that while Congress is on the Yatra, BJP is actively doing press conferences and attacking the Yatra. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri taunted the Congress by advising to fill petrol from BJP ruled states to save money. BJP’s Jugal Thakor said that this is anafrat failao yatra (a march to spread hatred). Smriti Irani could not miss the opportunity to outrage at Rahul Gandhi. Attacks by BJP is putting Congress in the headlines, something Congress was unable to maintain for years. There’s a saying, “There is nothing like bad press, all press is good press.”

At the same time, Arvind Kejriwal is on mission Gujarat, seen confronting Gujarat system and then eating among people in Gujarat.

It’s clear that mobilisation is a must, people need to be informed about the rising authoritarianism. But, the way this Bharat Jodo Yatra is planned, it can still not be compared to the previous Yatras.

Reasons for the in-comparison–

Support for Modi Govt.- Modi government has support of the people. This is not an authoritarian regime; people’s support is there. And amidst this support, can the Congress party regain support of people in this yatra?
No support for opposition – The opposition was largely inactive for most period. Besides, people have not been able to see the opposition on the ground – that will have to change. The speed with which the leaders are quitting Congress party, that is why Ghulam Nabi Azad insisted firstly on a Congress Jodo Yatra, before the Bharat Jodo Yatra. This, to some extent is true – first repair your own boat, then the Yatra.
Intention but no action – What’s most important is the message – the intention is there, but where is the plan, or point of action? What is the message in the yatra? Bharat Jodo is only a slogan, nothing else.

On the other hand, the Sangh Parivar (Sangh family) has a clear agenda which draws people’s attention. It was not imposed on the people, the ideology was accepted willingly. Because of better organizational skill, they have the support of people.

Three prerequisites that should have been covered beforeby the Congress:

A Clear Convincing Political-Ideological Narrative – How will they achieve the most out of this yatra without a vision?
Reliable Leadership – Over 3 years, and still Congress president is not elected – should have solved leadership question before the Yatra.
Deep-rooted Organisational Presence – Without organization, the people will remain mere spectators of the Yatra. How will they join the party?

Rath Yatra in the 1990s gave an electoral dividend, as Advani ji had a message which was further propagated by the sangh parivar – slowly but strongly they made stronghold. So, even if people are impressed by the Congress yatra, will it translate to votes? More than electoral engineering, a social political engineering is also needed.

There is no ifs and buts, that the cause and intention are good, Rahul is a gentleman, but politics does not reap benefits only by good intentions. Politics demands more – not just 150 days – but 365 days of relentless work – it demands consistency. We hope that after this Yatra, a strong opposition emerges which will benefit people and democracy, because we have seen what happens when politics becomes one sided.

[Images from different sources]

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