The CWC meeting on 23rd August, in the end, turned out to be a storm in a teacup. This digital meeting was called to address a letter written by a group of 23 dissidents. They wanted a ‘full time, effective and visible’ President, who is more easily accessible. Now that’s a fair demand, but it’s also a direct charge against Rahul Gandhi! This is a strong statement of no confidence against the family scion. Which itself is a ‘First’ for Congress run by Sonia. After such a massive build-up and the ‘Letter Bomb’, there was mutiny brewing in the air. The meeting lasted for 7 long hours. And, reportedly, there were many jibes exchanged and caustic remarks made by both the sides. Which is another of ‘Firsts’. But after day long discussions, deliberations and accusations nothing changed!

Sonia Gandhi continues to be the party President, with the heir apparent, Rahul waiting in the wings to take over. One day later, another Congress leader, Anil Shastri joined the dissidents, making it to 24. But that hardly changes anything. Gandhis, have successfully and quite brilliantly, stomped out another small or very small attempt to topple them from leadership position.

If that’s what you are thinking, will not blame you. Because that's the first reflex reaction, which most of the political watchers have come out with. You see, and this is how it was supposed to end. Hence even analysts are ridiculing the dissidents and calling this another victory for Gandhis. But I think it’s different this time and there is much more to the whole fiasco, than it meets the eye.

If one goes through the list of 23, who wrote the letter, it’s sort of confusing. The list is a mix of the so-called old guard and young turks. Which punctures the old (Team Sonia) versus young (Team Rahul) theory. 4 of them Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Wasnik, Anand Sharma and Jitin Prasada are old family loyalists and CWC members themselves. Indicating their clout within the organisation and access to the Gandhis.

Some of them have not won an election for a while (since emergence of Modi). Ambika Soni taunted on these lines to one of the ‘Rebels’. And hence owe their power and privileges to the family. While some others are popular leaders and elected MPs. And have been making noise about the current arrangement of Rahul controlling the party from the backroom. Some on the list are seen-you-somewhere, wandering on the sideline leaders. So why is such a disparate set of individuals together?

Because all of them have one thing in common. Or more aptly, a common enemy. And that’s Rahul Gandhi! Their current position in the Congress is threatened by him. Either because he wants them out or because of his incompetence. It’s not a secret anymore, that Rahul is frustrated with the old guard and wants to replace them with his own team. Jyotiraditya Scindia joining BJP and Sachin Pilot almost following him is a clear-cut example of that frustration. Other day, even Priyanka Vadra also vented her anger on the oldies for not toeing Rahul’s line on Modi. Hence, say for Sibal or Anand Sharma the rebellious act makes sense.

But why did someone like Shashi Tharoor or Jitin Prasada or Manish Tewari, who can’t be clubbed with the old turks in any respect, join the gang? Obviously, because they are convinced that Rahul doesn’t have it in him to win elections. There was a time when the Dynasty used to get solid votes for the party and win elections for the candidates. Those are a passe now. Over the years Gandhis have been losing their clout with the voters steadily. Hence these dissidents are convinced that if Rahul comes back as the President, their political careers are ruined.

So, what did the dissidents gain by exposing themselves so openly? Well, because many from the younger lot (Team Rahul?) and few who are winning elections even when Modi led BJP looks unbeatable, joined in, they were able to postpone Rahul’s comeback bid, at least by 6 months. Now, for someone like Jitin Prasada there is a chance that he will be allowed to make decisions in UP Congress and not instructed by Mrs Vadra, when she descends from a helicopter for a photo-op. Now there is a chance that a sensible man like Milind Deora will be heard before announcing the party's economic policy. Now, for someone like Tharoor, who has won from Trivandrum thrice in a row and who’s also very popular in liberal circles, has a hope of giving at least a decent fight to the family member whenever the internal elections will be called. And if that happens, chances are there that he may just make it.

Sounds too rosy for a party riddled with sycophancy and high-command culture like Congress? Actually yes. indications are there that the dissidents' wings will be clipped ruthlessly and the dynasty will use all the might to crush the rebellion. But one feels that may not be good enough to put out the mutiny. And if dissenting voices are not given a chance to be heard, all the chances are there that 1969 will revisit Congress and the party may be split!

Image Credits: ANI