Congress Must Revise Strategy to Compete with BJP's Evolving Political Landscape

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy emphasised the need for the Congress to adapt its strategies to win elections, given the changing political landscape. He highlighted that the BJP has altered the rules of engagement, and people are less connected to ideologies post-liberalisation. Reddy suggested that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should lead campaigns, leveraging the influence of the Maratha or Gandhi family to secure votes in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly election on November 20.

Reddy pointed out that after liberalisation, ideological connections have weakened, with people thinking more emotionally rather than ideologically. He noted that this shift requires a reorientation in political strategies. "Today there is more of Swiggy politics, ideological commitment and connection has reduced after liberalisation," he said, adding that even voters' commitment towards the nation is coming down and reorientation is required.

Adapting Political Strategies

The Telangana Chief Minister reflected on lessons from past elections, such as the Haryana state poll defeat. He mentioned that in Telangana, Congress succeeded by seeking votes in Sonia Gandhi's name. In contrast, Haryana's election was influenced by Jat versus non-Jat dynamics. Reddy believed that invoking Rahul Gandhi's name could have led to victory there. He stressed the importance of having a strong brand to counter local factors, similar to how BJP uses Modi's name even in local elections.

Reddy elaborated on the Congress's need to modernise its approach, comparing it to shifting from a test match to a 20:20 format in cricket. "The Congress party leaders are playing a test match. Today, it is 20:20 format," he stated. He acknowledged the challenge posed by BJP's aggressive tactics but insisted on finding a middle path to compete effectively.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Discussing the 2024 general elections, Reddy remarked that it wasn't a defeat for BJP but specifically for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It is defeat of Modiji, not the BJP because everything was planned based on Modis guarantee," he said. He argued that Modi's assurances no longer hold sway with voters, indicating a need for change.

Reddy also touched upon alliances formed by Modi with leaders like N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar to establish a central government. On delimitation issues, he urged the central government to form a commission for detailed discussions or face potential challenges.

Polarised Politics and Its Impact

Addressing polarised politics, Reddy warned about its negative implications for the country. He urged those in power to reconsider divisive tactics, stating, "Those in power need to think about this because divisive politics is not good for the country... How long will the divisive politics be played? Every medicine, howsoever good, has an expiry date," he added.

Reddy concluded by stressing that adapting strategies and understanding emotional connections over ideological ones could help Congress navigate future electoral challenges successfully.