The Congress celebrates its 136th foundation day today (Dec 28) with expectations that it will continue to lead the anti-BJP bogie. The Opposition has activated itself in the wake of farmers' agitation, but it cannot yet claim ownership of the protest because the farmers have shown least interest in allowing the parties to promote them directly from the Delhi battle theatre. The Congress — down in numbers, spirit and activity — did show up with something like a protest in support of farmers in New Delhi, where its leaders made a lot of noise and got detained. The party gave the President a memorandum signed by two crore farmers from across the country. And yet, neither the union government nor the farmers' unions have given the prime Opposition party due importance in the scheme of things. For Congress, the year 2021 would be as demanding as the previous years, particularly in Maharashtra, where it is relegated to the fourth position.

Idea of nationalism

As far as foundation day celebrations are concerned, the Congress would again be trying to tear into the BJP's ideas. This time, it's nationalism, a plank that the ruling party has sold successfully to Indians. The Congress has asked party workers and leaders to post a selfie with the Tiranga online and organise Tiranga yatras across the country to mark the foundation day. Previously, the Congress had tried soft Hindutva to challenge the BJP in some hostile places, but the returns weren't very encouraging. It was like "your Hindutva vs my Hindutva" battle. The tussle over nationalism wouldn't be any different. The Congress leaders have taken a leaf out of pre-independence history and branded their nationalism as a tool to fight against the British-like BJP. The 100th year celebrations of the Nagpur Session of the Congress drew a parallel between the Congress-led independence struggle and an anti-BJP movement. However, the Congress leaders in Nagpur seemed to have forgotten the strength of unity their legendary leaders ensured while driving the British away. With no initiative from the national or state party units, the two warring factions of the local Congress organised separate functions last week. Faction feud has been a bane for the Congress. A bigger fight can be seen in Delhi among the veterans and the Young Turks of the party. Leadership would be another challenge for the grand old party in 2021. Will Rahul Gandhi wear the crown again to lead the party through half a dozen state elections till 2024?