One Dynasty Dimming, I had written in February 2013, on how Gandhi family could no longer swing votes for Congress. That ‘National Interest’ has aged rather well.
Former PM Deve Gowda will have to step up to resurrect JD(S), which has seen a shift of its voter base, while having to deal with his family's ambitions.
Niti Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar said the think tank is devising an economic agenda that will focus on sustainable growth and boosting private investments.
Indian sampradayas have to institutionalise their knowledge and boil it down to essentials for transmission and proselytisation if they are to compete with the major Abrahamic sects.
On 4 November 2025, NCLAT bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and Member Arun Baroka, noted that WhatsApp and Meta are distinct legal entities.
This world is being restructured and redrawn by one man, and what’s his power? It’s not his formidable military. It’s trade. With China, it turned on him.
Modi may not be from dynasty the entire BJP is from RSS parivar without which the party would fall like pack of card. It is RSS caders who are helping its political wing to spread across India. They waited for nearly fifty years. In Bengal they were joined by left party caders to attack TMC. Many may not agree, it is RSS which also made people to vote enmass for Rajiv in 1984. It is same RSS which packed off Vajpayee in 2004 for questioning present PM over Gujarat riots
/ So, a Lalu may be thrashed by a Nitish, but his vote share will still remain ahead of the Congress, or even the BJP, particularly if the party was out of its alliance with the JD(U) /
Nitish Kumar essentially revived a dead party in 2015. NDA Bihar will get 180/243 next year.
Non Voilant Independence moment is the genisis for Socialist ideology of congress party which was very much relevant for the initial growth of the country, at the same time Right wing started making foot with the steady growth of society and economy. Though communist party has its roots before independence, it failed attract masses except lower and marginalised classes which further reduced due to Indo China war. Right wing under current become visible in 70s after Bangladesh liberation war with anti Muslim sentiment over Indo Pak tensions which was used to create political unrest by Jam sangh and at the same time descenting Splinter parties started creating more trouble to Indira Gandhi which made her ill advised decision of Emergency. So effectively three ideolgies thrived One is Majoritarian religious based Right wing, Socialism oriented Centerist and Communist Leftists. During Indira period, the centrist congress party drifted from ideology base to person centric and later on completely transformed to family oriented political party while ideology based association eroded. After Indira Gandhi, the Splinter so called centrist polical parties turned into either a person centric or cast oriented. In the mean while since no dreath of communal fodder and penitration of RSS into sub urban and rising middle class helped BJP gain political prominence in 90s. Demolition of babri masjid was a greater turn around for BJP for long term and and intermittent communal violence only added strength to right wingers. Due to collapse of ideological base, the affiliation of congress party workers and leaders limited to loyality to gandhi family or crossed over to BJP or splinter regional parties. Though Leftists maintained ideological base but there are no takers for their ideology after Indo China war. In 90s Industrialists and Business men shifted from Congress boat to BJP boat. BJP quickly strengthned its ties with business community and continued with communal polarisation. Today the end result is Masses communally divided, BJP financially strong and on the other side centrists with lack of leadership and ideology base reduced to near non existence. Key option before congress for its revival is re develop ideological base and merge all the Splinter political parties which were formed by breaking away from Congress party. For the Leftists, returning back to CPI fold and work democratic communism
Since congress party’s strongest support and glue to keep party Cadres is Gandhi family, any attempt to replace President OF Congress with non gandhi family person is just a knee jerk reaction which only help right wingers destroy congress. Congress party should first concentrate on bringing back its ideological base which should be “Unity in Diversity” on socity and “Inclusive Development” on Economy…. Oppsing to Majoritarian Religious supremacy, Crony Capitalism and Religious Nationalism of BJP. Once ideological base is developed then only one can think of change of guard in Congress leadership. Congress should work towards building strong state level leadership and at the same time make sure that they don’t turn it to vanshvaad at state level. Some good happened in the present elections that the cast based regional political parties influence got declined. Congress should work to gain foot hold in those regions.
The Congress party needs to rebuild itself, from the bottom up. At the moment, the President and the General Secretary are both needed at their posts.
Mr Kumaraswamy is right that his father committed mistake by becoming PM. And all regional dynasties should learn from DMK to keep in their respective states and bargain with who so ever is in power in Delhi. Those who like DMK and BJD, kept themselves to own region, survived. And those who, although all not dynasties looked towards Delhi power, like Kejariwal,most ambitious, perished.
I think there is not much benefit to India from journalists spending too much time on analysing failures of the Congress and suggesting how to revive this dying party. Instead it would be more beneficial to India if journalists spend more time on getting the best from Modi’s next five years of rule. India has numerous things to accomplish and to accomplish fast. Isn’t it the duty of every journalist to positively contribute?
Though Shekhar Gupta mentioned that dynasts in BJP have not faced the rout as faced by dynasts in Congress party but he didn’t explain why it’s so. May I request him to cover analysis of BJP dynasts also in his future posts.
Other dynasty developed their constituencies and states whereas Nehru Gandhi’s destroyed Uttar Pradesh from 1951 to 1990’s (50 years) after which the people shifted to SP, BSP, BJP.
Good analysis of some of the difference in performance between national elections and state elections.
A seasoned journalist like you need not have wasted so my space on something that is so obvious to everybody.
Modi may not be from dynasty the entire BJP is from RSS parivar without which the party would fall like pack of card. It is RSS caders who are helping its political wing to spread across India. They waited for nearly fifty years. In Bengal they were joined by left party caders to attack TMC. Many may not agree, it is RSS which also made people to vote enmass for Rajiv in 1984. It is same RSS which packed off Vajpayee in 2004 for questioning present PM over Gujarat riots
/ So, a Lalu may be thrashed by a Nitish, but his vote share will still remain ahead of the Congress, or even the BJP, particularly if the party was out of its alliance with the JD(U) /
Nitish Kumar essentially revived a dead party in 2015. NDA Bihar will get 180/243 next year.
Non Voilant Independence moment is the genisis for Socialist ideology of congress party which was very much relevant for the initial growth of the country, at the same time Right wing started making foot with the steady growth of society and economy. Though communist party has its roots before independence, it failed attract masses except lower and marginalised classes which further reduced due to Indo China war. Right wing under current become visible in 70s after Bangladesh liberation war with anti Muslim sentiment over Indo Pak tensions which was used to create political unrest by Jam sangh and at the same time descenting Splinter parties started creating more trouble to Indira Gandhi which made her ill advised decision of Emergency. So effectively three ideolgies thrived One is Majoritarian religious based Right wing, Socialism oriented Centerist and Communist Leftists. During Indira period, the centrist congress party drifted from ideology base to person centric and later on completely transformed to family oriented political party while ideology based association eroded. After Indira Gandhi, the Splinter so called centrist polical parties turned into either a person centric or cast oriented. In the mean while since no dreath of communal fodder and penitration of RSS into sub urban and rising middle class helped BJP gain political prominence in 90s. Demolition of babri masjid was a greater turn around for BJP for long term and and intermittent communal violence only added strength to right wingers. Due to collapse of ideological base, the affiliation of congress party workers and leaders limited to loyality to gandhi family or crossed over to BJP or splinter regional parties. Though Leftists maintained ideological base but there are no takers for their ideology after Indo China war. In 90s Industrialists and Business men shifted from Congress boat to BJP boat. BJP quickly strengthned its ties with business community and continued with communal polarisation. Today the end result is Masses communally divided, BJP financially strong and on the other side centrists with lack of leadership and ideology base reduced to near non existence. Key option before congress for its revival is re develop ideological base and merge all the Splinter political parties which were formed by breaking away from Congress party. For the Leftists, returning back to CPI fold and work democratic communism
Since congress party’s strongest support and glue to keep party Cadres is Gandhi family, any attempt to replace President OF Congress with non gandhi family person is just a knee jerk reaction which only help right wingers destroy congress. Congress party should first concentrate on bringing back its ideological base which should be “Unity in Diversity” on socity and “Inclusive Development” on Economy…. Oppsing to Majoritarian Religious supremacy, Crony Capitalism and Religious Nationalism of BJP. Once ideological base is developed then only one can think of change of guard in Congress leadership. Congress should work towards building strong state level leadership and at the same time make sure that they don’t turn it to vanshvaad at state level. Some good happened in the present elections that the cast based regional political parties influence got declined. Congress should work to gain foot hold in those regions.
The Congress party needs to rebuild itself, from the bottom up. At the moment, the President and the General Secretary are both needed at their posts.
Nehru Gandhis should be exiled to North Korea or Venezuela. Congress should be disbanded. ‘Socialist’ word expunged from the constitution.
Mr Kumaraswamy is right that his father committed mistake by becoming PM. And all regional dynasties should learn from DMK to keep in their respective states and bargain with who so ever is in power in Delhi. Those who like DMK and BJD, kept themselves to own region, survived. And those who, although all not dynasties looked towards Delhi power, like Kejariwal,most ambitious, perished.
Right on spot. Who will administer the purgative when the apex family itself is worthy of evacuation?
I think there is not much benefit to India from journalists spending too much time on analysing failures of the Congress and suggesting how to revive this dying party. Instead it would be more beneficial to India if journalists spend more time on getting the best from Modi’s next five years of rule. India has numerous things to accomplish and to accomplish fast. Isn’t it the duty of every journalist to positively contribute?
Though Shekhar Gupta mentioned that dynasts in BJP have not faced the rout as faced by dynasts in Congress party but he didn’t explain why it’s so. May I request him to cover analysis of BJP dynasts also in his future posts.
Other dynasty developed their constituencies and states whereas Nehru Gandhi’s destroyed Uttar Pradesh from 1951 to 1990’s (50 years) after which the people shifted to SP, BSP, BJP.