1. The Congress spokespersons are to follow
the same line on the first family of the party, the Gandhis (including Robert
Vadra) the way it has been. Its sanctity is not to be touched. But, in the
changed circumstances, it is expected from the spokespersons that they follow
the line but don't look like following it. They have to be the masters of the
communication on these lines. It is expected from them that they perform by
giving their 100%. Party strategists will keep a sharp eye on even a single
failure.
2. Any reference to the first family, the
Gandhis, has to be mixed with terms like party democracy on the work to bounce
back, a better mix of old and young guards, legacy of Gandhi family for the
Congress party and the collective responsibility under the leadership of Sonia
Gandhi.
3. Congress is a democratic party and organizational
polls are going to be held for party positions as per its 'democratic norms'.
Polls will be held for every party position based on party's constitution. It
goes with the fact that positions like vice-president do not come in the poll
ambit as defined by the party's constitution. Also, before holding polls,
Congress believes in developing consensus and the current president Sonia
Gandhi is a world figure and one of the tallest mass leaders in India whose
acceptability goes beyond the party.
4. Congress is at forefront of the secular
politics in the country and the reports that party is changing its track to
pro-Hindutva politics is baseless. Yes, for party restructuring and functional
changes, party is going to focus more on changing demographic patterns of the
country and its communication machinery will be tuned accordingly. And there is
no need for Congress to prove its credentials for it could not have led the
nation to its independence without the support of all the sections of the
country including the Hindus.
5. It was not the anger against the
Congress led United Progressive Alliance government that led to BJP's victory
and Congress' historic loss but it was because of the communal politics pushed
by Narendra Modi's polarizing personality. The increasing voices from RSS and its
affiliate organizations on making India a Hindu nation or radical agenda like
religion conversions only affirm it.
6. Congress has fought for nation's
independence and doesn't need lessons from others on what is in national
interest and what is not. And no issue is sacrosanct. The issue is to be hit
hard whenever there is even the slightest leeway, even if it concerns issues
like Pak's anti-terror boat that was exploded off the Gujarat coast by people
manning it.
7. Every mention of BJP in every press
conference or media address is to go with U-turn government, U-turn prime
minister and U-turn ministers.
8. Whatever the BJP government is trying to
do has already been done by the Congress party and its governments. The narrow
vision of BJP, mentored by RSS, is not capable of pushing a secular agenda of
development and they, after efforts to hijack the legacies of Congress
stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,
are trying to hijack of developing India.
9.
10. And the spokespersons need to be adept enough
to realize and improvise where to push for 'secular Vs communal' line and where
to sound 'like' (never in clear terms) 'pro-Hindutva' or at-least not 'anti-Hindutva'.
But the list is not exhaustive and the party
strategists are open to incorporate further 'relevant' suggestions.
