Sonia draws line in the sand; time for Team Anna to back off

Sonia Gandhi’s strong statements at the Congress parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday can be dismissed as another effort to rally the troops, but it could also mark a turning point in the UPA’s efforts to pull back from the edge of chaos. Sonia made three assertions. First, the Congress will “pass the Lokpal” despite the opposition’s “obstructionist” tactics and Team Anna’s “deliberate and malicious” critiques. She called the Lokpal Bill passed by the Cabinet on Tuesday a “fabulous piece of legislation”. Second, she asserted that there was no hiatus between the party and the government. “Let me once and for all nail this (canard). There may well be differing points of view. But whatever is eventually done is done together.” [caption id=“attachment_162071” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The Congress will not budge any further on the Lokpal Bill whatever the political cost. The BJP and the Gandhian can push no further. Munir uz Zaman/AFP”]  [/caption] Third, she made it clear that the Congress would approach the next general elections and various state assembly ones in-between holding the banner of the Food Security Bill aloft. She asked partymen to take the bill to the people and “make it a central part of our political campaigns.” Barring a dead giveaway phrase which hinted at the party’s recent loss of internal morale (“I cannot see any reason for us to be defeatist”), Sonia effectively drew a line in the sand to deter both the BJP and Team Anna:  Thus far, and no further. If the line holds, it means the Congress will not budge any further on the Lokpal Bill whatever the political cost. The BJP and Team Anna can push no further. It could also mean that the Congress’ allies will not be humoured beyond a point. It could be a message to Mamata Banerjee. Even though the Congress needs the Trinamool more than the other way round in Bengal, the fact is Mamata cannot afford to fight all her battles alone – with no backing at the centre. It will give her cause for pause. As for the DMK, it has always been quiescent ever since Andimuthu Raja went to jail and the party lost the Tamil Nadu assembly elections last May. It will toe the Congress line come what may. With Ajit Singh already in the UPA, and with Mulayam Singh and Mayawati – lukewarm UPA backers in the Lok Sabha — focused on the outcome of the UP elections next year, the Sonia Gandhi line should hold at least till that is out of the way. And what of Team Anna? [caption id=“attachment_162079” align=“alignright” width=“380” caption=“Going for broke when the war is nearly won would be foolhardy. Vijay Kumar Joshi/PTI”]  [/caption] Even though the anti-corruption group has been openly rejecting the latest version of the Lokpal Bill – where the only sticking point is control of the Central Bureau of Investigation – the Sonia Gandhi line should give it cause for pause. The point is this: having got 80-85 percent of what it wanted out of the Lokpal Bill, discretion should be the better part of valour. If Team Anna now continues with its fight-to-the-finish routine, it could be stand exposed. The truth is the country is now seriously concerned about the larger macro picture, where everything is going downhill. The people may not have the stomach for more agitational politics when larger concerns about jobs and incomes are taking root. Incumbents always have a political advantage when things are going badly and people start getting nervous over basic issues. Assuming Sonia sticks to her stand, it’s time for Anna to give himself room to declare victory and live to fight another day. There will be plenty of opportunities to fight once the Lokpal Bill becomes law. The Lokpal will be nemesis of all future governments – and that is what Team Anna should keep in mind before prematurely opting for agitation. People will back Team Anna only if the government’s version of Lokpal is seen to be failing. Going for broke when the war is nearly won would be foolhardy.