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ENSURING THE STATUS QUO

Vijay Gupta. Dated: 11/27/2020 6:51:52 PM

Every time we read the word ‘status quo’, it reminds of the intense standoff between Indian and Chinese forces at the LAC in Ladakh. ‘Status quo’ or ‘statu quo’ is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs. And it depicts a specific ongoing crisis in Indian politics very well. The Indian National Congress, the oldest and one of the grandest political party in Indian history having contributed a significant share in India’s struggle towards becoming an independent nation, now struggles to exist in the modern battlefield of Indian elections. From being one of the most dominant parties in Indian politics to one at the back foot, striving to mark its presence today. Maintaining the status quo is what drove down the grand old party into dark shadows in this case, with the steering wheel handed down to the same set of individuals from a definite group irrespective of their skill and experience but rather because of the bloodline. This scenario reminds most of us of the generic story about a dominating empire, an emperor born noble to dominate his kingdom with supreme power until the rise of a democratic revolution to overthrow the emperor from the throne for better. Yet this story within Congress is a bit different, with the kingdom still prevailing strong over the ones demanding democracy, ultimately leading to the demise of the political presence of the party with the charge in the hands of an inadequate leader refusing to back down at any cost. The entire nation has witnessed the working of INC being operated within the bloodline, neglecting the minor exceptions like Narsimha Rao, ultimately being shoved out of the framework altogether for daring to bring a suitable positive change. The staged play and circus of attempting to find a real replacement for the party president and unsurprisingly failing at every attempt, it has been recognised by the entire nation. The electoral results are a poof of the same with the party’s vote share rapidly declining throughout the years at a national level. Losing all its prominent battlefields can be seen as a response by the general population and voters of India. Changing the existing procedures with much-awaited reforms is what the grand party ultimately needs to revive back as a prominent player in Indian politics. It is evenly essential to ensure a rigid opposition, deemed necessary for the optimal functioning of a democracy.