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...

min read

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.

The Strength Behind Smiles

Divyaa Advaani
Oct 31
3 min read

Everyone’s fighting a battle you can’t see. Some wear their exhaustion under designer suits. Some hide it behind boardroom smiles. And yet, when life keeps throwing curveballs, the quiet whisper inside says, “Why me, always?”

What the world often sees is the highlight reel — smiling pictures, confident handshakes, flawless presentations. What it doesn’t see are the sleepless nights, the quiet doubts, and the countless times one gathers the strength to show up again. Everyone carries a story behind that smile, a silent resilience that keeps them moving forward. And yet, the irony is that we often mistake composure for comfort.

We scroll through glossy LinkedIn posts, watch peers speak on stages, and convince ourselves they’ve cracked the code. But the truth? They’re struggling too — just differently. The only distinction is this: they’ve learned how to show up with presence, not perfection.

And that, right there, is the secret difference between those who get seen and those who stay unseen.

In today’s hyper-visible world, your competence alone isn’t enough. People don’t buy your service, product, or position first — they buy your perception. The way you show up — online and offline — shapes how seriously the world takes you.

I once coached a founder from Pune who’d built a brilliant tech solution but couldn’t get a single investor meeting. His product was strong, his numbers impressive — yet, he came across as unsure and inconsistent online. We worked on refining his digital presence and communication for three sessions. Within eight weeks, he not only secured two investor introductions but also landed a pilot project he’d been chasing for a year. Nothing in his business changed — only how the world perceived him did.

In business and in life, perception often outruns reality. The world remembers how we show up, not always what we go through. And that’s where personal branding begins — not as a façade, but as the discipline to turn authenticity into strength, and struggle into silent power.

That’s what personal branding really is — not a logo, not a wardrobe upgrade, but a deliberate alignment between who you are and how you appear. It’s your reputation system working even when you aren’t in the room.

When leaders neglect their personal brand, they unknowingly let others write their story. And once that happens, it’s tough to reclaim the narrative.

A strong brand doesn’t just make you “look good.” It builds credibility, attracts collaborations, opens doors faster, and positions you as the trusted choice — in a world overflowing with options.

Every professional who says “enough now” when life gets heavy must realise — strength isn’t just surviving silently. It’s in learning to present that resilience in a way that inspires confidence, opportunity, and respect. That’s how personal brands are born — not from perfection, but from presence with purpose.

I’ve helped over 200 founders, executives, and professionals sharpen their presence to align with their goals — from attracting global investors to leading teams with greater authority. And it always starts with one question: “How are people experiencing you when you’re not in the room?”

If that question makes you pause — that’s your signal to act.

To help you begin, I’ve created a free one-page checklist titled “3 Signs Your Personal Brand Is Holding You Back.” You can get it by sending the word BRAND CHECKLIST via Instagram on @suaveu6 or LinkedIn @Divyaa Advaani or emailing suaveu6@gmail.com with the subject line CHECKLIST.

And if you’d like a more personalised start, you can also book a free 20-minute Brand Audit with me on https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani. In that call, I’ll give you three practical changes you can implement in the next week to be more visible, credible, and memorable in your industry. Just mention NEWSPAPER AUDIT when you reach out.

Because the truth is — everyone is struggling, but only a few choose to transform that struggle into their signature story.

(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

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