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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Congress’ solo path for ‘ideological survival’

Mumbai: The Congress party’s decision to contest the forthcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently is being viewed as an attempt to reclaim its ideological space among the public and restore credibility within its cadre, senior leaders indicated. The announcement - made by AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala alongside state president Harshwardhan Sapkal and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad - did not trigger a backlash from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi...

Congress’ solo path for ‘ideological survival’

Mumbai: The Congress party’s decision to contest the forthcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently is being viewed as an attempt to reclaim its ideological space among the public and restore credibility within its cadre, senior leaders indicated. The announcement - made by AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala alongside state president Harshwardhan Sapkal and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad - did not trigger a backlash from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT). According to Congress insiders, the move is the outcome of more than a year of intense internal consultations following the party’ dismal performance in the 2024 Assembly elections, belying huge expectations. A broad consensus reportedly emerged that the party should chart a “lone-wolf” course to safeguard the core ideals of Congress, turning140-years-old, next month. State and Mumbai-level Congress leaders, speaking off the record, said that although the party gained momentum in the 2019 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it was frequently constrained by alliance compulsions. Several MVA partners, they claimed, remained unyielding on larger ideological and political issues. “The Congress had to compromise repeatedly and soften its position, but endured it as part of ‘alliance dharma’. Others did not reciprocate in the same spirit. They made unilateral announcements and declared candidates or policies without consensus,” a senior state leader remarked. Avoid liabilities He added that some alliance-backed candidates later proved to be liabilities. Many either lost narrowly or, even after winning with the support of Congress workers, defected to Mahayuti constituents - the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, or the Nationalist Congress Party. “More than five dozen such desertions have taken place so far, which is unethical, backstabbing the voters and a waste of all our efforts,” he rued. A Mumbai office-bearer elaborated that in certain constituencies, Congress workers effectively propelled weak allied candidates through the campaign. “Our assessment is that post-split, some partners have alienated their grassroots base, especially in the mofussil regions. They increasingly rely on Congress workers. This is causing disillusionment among our cadre, who see deserving leaders being sidelined and organisational growth stagnating,” he said. Chennithala’s declaration on Saturday was unambiguous: “We will contest all 227 seats independently in the BMC polls. This is the demand of our leaders and workers - to go alone in the civic elections.” Gaikwad added that the Congress is a “cultured and respectable party” that cannot ally with just anyone—a subtle reference to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which had earlier targeted North Indians and other communities and is now bidding for an electoral arrangement with the SS(UBT). Both state and city leaders reiterated that barring the BMC elections - where the Congress will take the ‘ekla chalo’ route - the MVA alliance remains intact. This is despite the sharp criticism recently levelled at the Congress by senior SS(UBT) leader Ambadas Danve following the Bihar results. “We are confident that secular-minded voters will support the Congress' fight against the BJP-RSS in local body elections. We welcome backing from like-minded parties and hope to finalize understandings with some soon,” a state functionary hinted. Meanwhile, Chennithala’s firm stance has triggered speculation in political circles about whether the Congress’ informal ‘black-sheep' policy vis-a-vis certain parties will extend beyond the BMC polls.

New Order

The wheel of Indian cricket turns with deliberate inevitability. 25-year-old Shubman Gill, fresh from his splendid helming in the long-form Test format, has now been appointed India’s one-day international (ODI) captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. The decision, taken jointly by Ajit Agarkar, India’s chairman of selectors, and Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, suggests a long-term plan designed to prepare India for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.


The announcement came ahead of India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia and marks a clear pivot towards youth and continuity. Gill is now India’s all-format leader in waiting.


Behind the decision lies a quiet revolution. The team of Gambhir and Agarkar - both strong-minded, occasionally combustible, but deeply purposeful - has introduced what one former BCCI official called an ‘Aussie culture’ to Indian cricket. This places the team above the cult of individuals. The days when the national side revolved around its twin stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are numbered. The selectors’ message is that India’s future belongs to a new breed, one schooled less in seniority than in sustained form, fitness and leadership potential for 2027.


While 37-year-old Rohit Sharma led the Indian side to the Champions Trophy win and came agonisingly close to World Cup glory, he has long been out of form. While Sharma’s disappointment is evident at the decision, the selectors are not in the business of nostalgia. Likewise, even if Kohli may survive a little longer, he must sense the direction of travel.


The philosophy of Agarkar and Gambhir reflects a long-overdue pragmatic shift from personality-driven cricket to a more institutional model. Much like Australia in the early 2000s, India is seeking to embed a culture where leadership is a process, not a pedestal. By investing in Gill, the board hopes to craft a player fluent in all formats, attuned to global rhythms, and capable of inspiring a new generation with the 2027 World Cup as a horizon.


Gill represents a different archetype from his predecessors. Polished, composed and technically refined, his rise has been steady rather than sensational. His performance during India’s recent tour of England was nothing short of historic. In the five-match Test series, he amassed 754 runs, making him the highest run-scorer of the series and the first Indian to surpass 700 runs in a Test series in England.


The move to make Gill as ODI captain reflects an awareness that the game’s future lies in balance and adaptability. With the calendar crammed by franchise cricket and bilateral series losing lustre, maintaining a motivated team has become harder than ever. In this shifting ecosystem, grooming a young, all-format captain like Gill is a necessary investment in India’s 2027 ambitions.


India’s cricketing past has often been defined by its reverence for experience. By prioritising long-term planning over fan sentiment, the Gambhir–Agarkar duo has shown rare courage in a landscape often dominated by celebrity.

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