“History doesn't repeat itself but it often rhymes.” ~ Unknown. On the Republic day of India, we need to run a reality check on the health of the principal opposition party as much we need to introspect about the quality of our republic. . Opposition parties are very important in a democracy, especially in an election year (for the sole reason that it offers an alternative to any government). It has been observed that India's opposition is in shambles though it has put up a good show in the recent assembly elections.

To understand the character of the principal opposition party of the day i.e. the Congress , we need to look back into history. One of the earliest emperors of Delhi Sultanate, Iltumish set up a group of forty nobles called the Chahalgani to help him administer his territories. The institution went on to become a powerful institution by itself under future rulers. The Chahalgani went on to be a selfish organism which sought to increase its power whenever the ruler was perceived to be weak. Its tendency to preserve its power motivated attempts to install a pliable weak ruler.

On some occasions members of the Chahalgani went on to be become rulers of their own right. Why do I make this analogy? Is this driven by my bias against the Congress Party? These are valid questions that I ask myself. Sometime in the fag end of 2018, I saw a clip on Twitter where Rahul Gandhi was struggling to make a statement in front of the press. That is not surprising for anyone who knows him. But this clip is the clinching evidence to justify the Chahalgani analogy. All Congress bigwigs surrounding him were jostling to give him advice and catchy lines to spell out. Ahmed Patel seemed to be the key voice in the crowd, but Jyotiraditya Scindia is seen making fervent attempts to influence the Congress president.

Further, the entry of another Gandhi scion to the political arena has strengthened my Chahalgani hypothesis. Comparisons made between Priyanka Gandhi and Indira Gandhi may seem innocent at the outset. But they are another attempt to strengthen the Chahalgani because Priyanka has nothing on her resume apart from good looks. She will have to listen to her nobles if she wants to successfully operate in Indian politics. The Delhi-centric Chahalgani is more dangerous than a blatant monarchy or dictatorship because of its insidious character.

Power is concentrated among a bunch of power hungry 'nobles’ surrounding a symbolic democratic representative. This model works wonders internally and externally as it cannot be challenged. The blunders of this nobility will never be questioned. All high offices of the nation will remain closed to its common people in practice though it is theoretically possible.

The Chahalgani will go to any extent to protect its power. The recent EVM mischief from London is an example of its ruthless character.

Republicanism is based on the idea of an elected ruler and elected head of state. It is a political ideology that is diametrically opposite to monarchy or oligarchy. Any leader who seeks to protect the Indian constitution and its Republican character must not only defeat the Congress's first family, but also the powerful Chahalgani around him