• Chandan Yadav

Be careful that victories do not carry the seed of future defeats – Ralph Washington Sockman

Contrast the arrogant “Ab ki Baar 400 paar” call before the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections that was supposedly intended to make major changes in the Indian Constitution (as mentioned by many BJP insiders) with the post-election images of the humbled Modi, paying obeisance to a large copy of the Indian Constitution, and one gets the summary of this election result. The elections have thrown up a verdict that not only seemed unexpected to many mainstream-media ‘pundits’ even as counting started, but also one, which, in many ways, has shifted the moral compass of the country.

It is precisely because of this reason that Rahul Gandhi and for that matter, all members of the INDIA alliance have reason to cheer. This was perhaps for the first time in independent India’s history that in a democracy, an election was fought over the core ideology of the country rather than populist, economic issues. The core narrative for the 18th Lok Sabha elections as set by the INDIA Alliance was to save the soul of the country, the Constitution, and to safeguard the principles of democracy, social justice, secularism, and socialism (DS3) enshrined in the Constitution. The BJP failed in its intent to subvert the Constitution altogether by securing an overwhelming majority.

As the political leader of the INDIA alliance, Rahul Gandhi had the courage to make the Constitution and especially social justice an issue during the recent elections. Only a small number of individuals, even within the Congress may have had confidence in its success. While Assembly elections have previously been fought on the issue of social justice, it is noteworthy that this is the first instance in the Lok Sabha elections that this issue gained significant traction. And importantly, this time, there was no polarisation among the people on this topic. The present discourse on social justice is intricately linked to the campaign to create and save government jobs. The message that was successfully conveyed was that if government jobs would cease to exist, then reservations would be rendered meaningless. It is important to understand that the reservation of upper castes would also be impacted in this situation.

Rahul Gandhi successfully expanded the principle of social justice during the campaign by incorporating within it, five distinct categories of justice for different sections of society. While in the past, disputes would arise over a single point, but this time an additional five justices were included. Each one of them received a warm welcome.

Elections are fought on various issues, without knowing completely which issue would gain traction among voters. The issues gradually come to light during the campaign, and in fact, it is only when the results are declared that a clear picture emerges. Individuals with a keen political foresight and understanding and with an ear on the ground tend to make more precise predictions. Those who have connect at the grassroots level, those who regularly interact with the public and have the patience to listen to their ‘Mann Ki Baat’ are adept at gauging the mood of the nation. Rahul Gandhi therefore deserves credit for successfully connecting Indian politics with serious issues.

Another message that the common people of India have shown to the powers that be derives from the narrative of the Ramayana. The story goes that in the epic, Raavan rode a chariot filled with weapons and supported by the privileged. Lord Ram on the other hand fought on the ground, assisted by the humble Vaanar Sena. To extrapolate this story in the 2024 context, here it was Narendra Modi and the BJP who were riding the chariot of arrogance; of corporate greed; supported by the media, judiciary and the bureaucracy. On the other hand, the Opposition alliance was not just fighting all of this, but they were also fighting the Government machinery – the ED, the CBI and other such forces. It was not just a fight against the Government and an ideology but also a fight to safeguard the pillars of democracy on which the foundations of the country had been built and which are gradually being eroded. In the democracy or ‘Loktantra’ – the ‘Lok’ was with Rahul Gandhi while the entire ‘tantra’ machinery was with the BJP! And Rahul Gandhi was fighting along with Vanchit Sena. The wise electorate has shown the people in power a disapproval of their arrogating themselves to such misuse of power.

In contrast to humbling those in power, the people of India have shown their acceptance and appreciation for Rahul Gandhi’s persistent messaging. From Bhatta Parsaul in 2012 to Niyamgiri and even in the initial days of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Rahul Gandhi faced constant ridicule, harassment and mockery from those in power and the mainstream media. His Parliamentary membership was revoked; his house was taken back; he was questioned for more than 55 hours by the ED and the CBI. A part of the government and party machinery of the BJP have been dedicated to mocking him, making memes, jokes on Rahul Gandhi and trying to construct a “Pappu” image for him and build a perception that that he was not a leader, that he was a reluctant politician. And this harassment was also extended to the Congress Party leading to even the freezing of the Congress Party bank accounts on the eve of the elections. Yet Rahul Gandhi has remained undeterred and unwaveringly focussed on his goal. He has consistently practiced what he preaches, that, for him, politics is not only the battle for power, but also a battle for an ideology – at the core of which lies the principles of democracy, the existence of nation, the existence of politics and the way the politics is being done in the entire country. Both the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatras’ have played a crucial role in this context, and depicting that principles are far dearer to him than simply being in power. Not only Rahul Gandhi, but any leader from the Opposition alliance who dared to question the Prime Minister or his coterie were indirectly threatened by the Government. The people have given him unexpected victories and have endorsed his messaging and ideology.

Thirdly, what the elections have proved beyond doubt is the political maturity and sagacity that Rahul Gandhi has depicted during this entire election process. By bringing multiple like-minded parties together at the macro level, even though there were multiple contradictions within them at the micro level required a political maturity, and a consistent focus on the larger picture – to safeguard democracy, secularism, socialism, and social justice. He did not even campaign in a state like West Bengal because he did not want to split the votes in a state where there was no formal umbrella alliance with the TMC.

The making of this Alliance was therefore a Herculean effort as many of the parties had been ideologically opposed to the Congress and, and in fact the growth of many of the regional parties had been at the cost of the Congress Party. The entire environment was totally hostile to him, but Rahul Gandhi, the Congress and the INDIA Alliance took up the cudgels and fought against all odds. The results are there for all to see. The election results may not have been sufficient to form a government, but the circumstances in which the speed of Modi’s chariot has been slowed down are not trivial. In independent India, Nehru, Indira or Rajiv Gandhi probably did not have to face this level of struggle in the electoral battleground. Such a huge organized force had never stood before these three. The country has unequivocally voted for a strong democracy, for social justice, for secularism and development while giving a huge thumbs down to the incumbent government in which, far from crossing “400 paar” could not even cross the majority figure on its own.

So, what seems as victory for Modi is actually a moral failure and what seems as failure of the INDIA Alliance is actually a resounding moral victory. The Parliament will witness true Democracy and debate in the true spirit of the Constitution and any attempt to steamroll important and far-reaching legislation will be virtually impossible. As Michel de Montaigne said, “There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.”

The Author is the AICC secretary for Chhattisgarh.