Today’s Big Story
From Punjab to Goa, India's main opposition party - Congress - is unraveling quickly. Yesterday, former Goa Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro joined Trinamool Congress (TMC). Last week, former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh was ousted from the Congress party in an unseemly manner. To add insult to injury, Navjot Singh Sidhu also handed in his resignation as Punjab's Congress Chief on Tuesday.
📯 What’s Going On?
With assembly elections around the corner, there seems to be a lot of confusion in Punjab's cadre. It now appears that Congress Chief Sidhu's resignation has not been accepted by the party high-command. And although Sidhu's much speculated ambition of becoming Punjab CM was thwarted, he agreed to meet with the new Punjab CM Channi yesterday to iron out differences.
Meanwhile, ex Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah also had a meeting. And so, another Congress heavyweight appears to be drawing closer to the BJP, casting more doubt on the Congress's ability to hold on to one of the few states it controls.
🔍 What Does this Mean?
Many on the left argue that there is a serious leadership crisis within the Congress party and these latest defections should serve as a wake-up call to its main leaders.
Many on the right are supportive of ex-Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh's decision to quit the Congress party, arguing that he may strike a tactical deal with the BJP and play an important role in mediating the farmers' crisis.
"The ongoing Sidhu soap opera and the poor handling of the Punjab crisis by the Gandhi siblings have given a fresh lease of life to the group of 23 Congress leaders (G-23) who had shot off a strongly-worded letter to Sonia Gandhi last year, seeking an overhaul of the party organisation and the election of a full-time president. While Punjab is on the boil, the situation is no better in other states, where factional leaders are busy slugging it out. The weakening of the central leadership has resulted in the hollowing out of the Congress. The lack of direction in the party has predictably demoralised party workers, forcing them to look for better alternatives." - The Quint
"Although the meeting had set off buzz in the national capital, it is not clear whether Amarinder is switching sides as he had said that he is not joining BJP. But even if he enters into a ‘hidden’ pact with BJP, it will not be surprising, given than Captain has a moderate image and a Hindu base as well. In a reference to the G-23 which has raised its voice in the Congress again, the Captain said the younger leadership should be promoted to implement plans which senior leaders are best equipped to formulate." - The Wire
"…can't stay in a party where I am insulted and not trusted," Amarinder said and added that he is still exploring options. Amarinder, who had been engaged in a bitter power tussle with Navjot Singh Sidhu, was unceremoniously ousted as Punjab chief minister by the Congress. Hitting out at Sidhu, Amarinder said "he was a mere crowd-puller and did not know how to carry the team along. There have been speculations about Amarinder joining the BJP, especially after his meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday evening." - The Times of India
"Sidhu was appointed as the chief of the Punjab PCC amidst serious disapproval of the former state Chief Minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh. Sidhu’s resignation has a dealt a massive blow to the Congress high-command that was hoping to sort out the turmoil in the state party unit ahead of the assembly polls early next year." - Swarajya
💭 Why Should I Care?
Jumping Ship
Messy power transitions and high profile defections are not uncommon in Indian politics. But what is a more serious concern is the continuing leadership crisis in the Congress. Kapil Sibal, Senior Leader of the Congress said in a recent press briefing "in our party, at the moment there is no President. So we don't know who is taking these decisions. It is ironic that those closest to the leadership have left."
There is also an absence of internal democracy within the Congress. And with taunts coming in from the BJP and AAP on the Congress party's failure in Punjab and Kapil Sibal raising pointed questions on who is making calls at the top, the party is left to douse fires in all corners of its house.
With the main opposition in such deep disarray, this spate of news does not bode well for democracy in India. The Congress party is facing a crisis of ideology, of organization, of leadership and most certainly that of urgency.
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💡 Below the Fold
Honestly, I was going to recommend one of the several interesting articles/podcasts/videos that I checked out this week but I realized most people have subscriptions to newsletters that cater to their specific interests. Plus, I don’t know if I want to compete with your social media algos. I mean, who am I kidding, amirite?
So instead, I thought I’d share excerpts of conversations I’ve been having at my breakfast table which often lead me to an interesting article online, or a movie or a book recommendation or even a cool reddit thread. Take what you need :)
This week, my grandmother has been preoccupied with Shradh preparations so my brother and I have been generally curious about the many associated rituals. For those that didn’t know (like me), Shradh is this annual 16-day calendar event where practicing Hindus remember family members who have died by offering prayers and giving to charity.
This morning, we were discussing other cultures that honor the dead, the most famous of which is arguably Mexican with their Dia de los Muertos celebrations (thanks, Hollywood!). You may be familiar with their day of the dead parade through the 2015 James Bond movie or the Pixar film Coco. Both are excellent films btw, but if you have to pick one, definitely watch Coco. Most people my age don’t seem to like animated films but I fail to understand why. Honestly, animated folk have more complex, nuanced character arcs and fuller, more developed personalities than most humans. Isn’t that a good sell?
Anyway, all of this led me to a pretty incredible Mexican proverb online about how according to them, humans die three legendary deaths - the third being the most definitive and poignantly final. Here it is:
“The first is when you realize you are mortal and will die. The second is when you actually die and cease to exist in your recognizable, physical form. The third and final death - and perhaps the most heartbreaking - is the last time someone says your name; the last time you’re remembered.”
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