Interview: Brand Rahul not affected by defeat, says Sanjay Jha
May 23, 2014
Mumbai: As the Congress licks its wounds after its worst election performance in history, spokesperson Sanjay Jha says this was a result of poor communication rather than poor performance of the UPA government. He also defends Rahul Gandhi’s role, and is non-committal about his sister Priyanka’s joining politics, as some party workers have demanded.
Q. Congress was routed in the elections as far as the numbers are concerned. What went wrong?
A. It is true that our performance has been far below expectations. The Congress party will certainly do a thorough examination of where we went wrong. Usually, there are multiple reasons that contribute to such a dramatically shocking result. There is no denying that we achieved a high GDP growth rate of 7.6 percent over 10 years, lifted 140 million people out of poverty, expanded infrastructure and made strong foundations through historic laws like the RTI, Right to Education, Lok Pal Bill, Right to Food, cash transfers, MNREGA. Clearly, our communication to the people of India wasn’t good enough.
Q. Who do you feel is to be blamed? Rahul Gandhi, who anchored the campaign or Manmohan Singh, who headed the government?
A. In our party, we do not indulge in a blame game, as responsibility is apportioned to various leaders.
Q. At the Congress Working Committee (CWC) both your top leaders resigned. Why were the resignations rejected? Is it because Congress can’t do without a Gandhi at the top?
A. Both the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi had already accepted responsibility for the defeat on the day of the election result. However, to blame a few people would be unfair because a gigantic election campaign in India can only be run through collective responsibility. The CWC has eminent leaders with great political experience and we must respect their decision. I would also like to remind you that both Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi have been instrumental in the general election victories of 2004 and 2009 besides several state assembly elections.
Q. How do you plan to insulate the brand ‘Gandhi’ (read Rahul Gandhi) from the loss? Don’t you feel this has hit his image badly.
A. The brand of Mr Rahul Gandhi stands for trust, inclusiveness, secularism and making a difference to the poor in India. The brand remains unaffected by the election result because the ethos and commitment of Mr Gandhi to his values remains unchanged.
Q. What went wrong in the last 10-years which you would like to correct if given charge to do so?
A. The UPA 1 and 2 did its job despite the great recession that hit the world in 2007-08, coalition compulsions and an obstructionist opposition. We took forward the India story and India became the third largest economy in the world in purchasing power parity terms by overtaking Japan. The one thing that we could have done better both from the government and the party was to have communicated vigorously using all available mediums.
Q. You were routed from Delhi because of the Aam Aadmi Party, now it’s making in-roads in states like Punjab where you are strong. How do you plan to counter it?
A. We definitely need to go back to the grassroots not just in Delhi and Punjab but all over the country.
Q. How do you rate the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, did he fail to strike a balance e between governance and electoral interests?
A. Dr Manmohan Singh had an outstanding tenure as a prime minister during which period we had both high growth and welfare expenditure, e-governance, transparency, pre-legislative consultation, eradication of polio, rise in literacy, higher life expectancy, which were all significant landmarks. Governance is an ongoing process and needs to be adapted to changing public expectations of society. Transparency and accountability are primordial.
Q. There is a clamour for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to lead the party. Your comments.
A. Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has very sharp political instincts and has campaigned extensively in both Rae Bareli and Amethi. We must respect her decision on whether she would join politics or otherwise.
Q. Do you agree that you failed to capitalize on the internal bickering of the BJP?
A. We were focused on our campaign and strategy and not on whether our opponent’s house was in order or not.
Q. How would Mr. Modi’s ascent to the prime minister’s post impact the country?
A. We do hope that the BJP government under Mr Modi delivers on the promises and expectations that it has outlined during the campaign and in its manifesto. We wish them the best of luck.
May 23, 2014
Mumbai: As the Congress licks its wounds after its worst election performance in history, spokesperson Sanjay Jha says this was a result of poor communication rather than poor performance of the UPA government. He also defends Rahul Gandhi’s role, and is non-committal about his sister Priyanka’s joining politics, as some party workers have demanded.
A. It is true that our performance has been far below expectations. The Congress party will certainly do a thorough examination of where we went wrong. Usually, there are multiple reasons that contribute to such a dramatically shocking result. There is no denying that we achieved a high GDP growth rate of 7.6 percent over 10 years, lifted 140 million people out of poverty, expanded infrastructure and made strong foundations through historic laws like the RTI, Right to Education, Lok Pal Bill, Right to Food, cash transfers, MNREGA. Clearly, our communication to the people of India wasn’t good enough.
Q. Who do you feel is to be blamed? Rahul Gandhi, who anchored the campaign or Manmohan Singh, who headed the government?
A. In our party, we do not indulge in a blame game, as responsibility is apportioned to various leaders.
Q. At the Congress Working Committee (CWC) both your top leaders resigned. Why were the resignations rejected? Is it because Congress can’t do without a Gandhi at the top?
A. Both the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi had already accepted responsibility for the defeat on the day of the election result. However, to blame a few people would be unfair because a gigantic election campaign in India can only be run through collective responsibility. The CWC has eminent leaders with great political experience and we must respect their decision. I would also like to remind you that both Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi have been instrumental in the general election victories of 2004 and 2009 besides several state assembly elections.
Q. How do you plan to insulate the brand ‘Gandhi’ (read Rahul Gandhi) from the loss? Don’t you feel this has hit his image badly.
A. The brand of Mr Rahul Gandhi stands for trust, inclusiveness, secularism and making a difference to the poor in India. The brand remains unaffected by the election result because the ethos and commitment of Mr Gandhi to his values remains unchanged.
Q. What went wrong in the last 10-years which you would like to correct if given charge to do so?
A. The UPA 1 and 2 did its job despite the great recession that hit the world in 2007-08, coalition compulsions and an obstructionist opposition. We took forward the India story and India became the third largest economy in the world in purchasing power parity terms by overtaking Japan. The one thing that we could have done better both from the government and the party was to have communicated vigorously using all available mediums.
Q. You were routed from Delhi because of the Aam Aadmi Party, now it’s making in-roads in states like Punjab where you are strong. How do you plan to counter it?
A. We definitely need to go back to the grassroots not just in Delhi and Punjab but all over the country.
Q. How do you rate the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, did he fail to strike a balance e between governance and electoral interests?
A. Dr Manmohan Singh had an outstanding tenure as a prime minister during which period we had both high growth and welfare expenditure, e-governance, transparency, pre-legislative consultation, eradication of polio, rise in literacy, higher life expectancy, which were all significant landmarks. Governance is an ongoing process and needs to be adapted to changing public expectations of society. Transparency and accountability are primordial.
Q. There is a clamour for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to lead the party. Your comments.
A. Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has very sharp political instincts and has campaigned extensively in both Rae Bareli and Amethi. We must respect her decision on whether she would join politics or otherwise.
Q. Do you agree that you failed to capitalize on the internal bickering of the BJP?
A. We were focused on our campaign and strategy and not on whether our opponent’s house was in order or not.
Q. How would Mr. Modi’s ascent to the prime minister’s post impact the country?
A. We do hope that the BJP government under Mr Modi delivers on the promises and expectations that it has outlined during the campaign and in its manifesto. We wish them the best of luck.
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This story was first published in www.thepoliticalindian.com on May 23, 2014
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