The Congress Party’s decision to decline the invitation to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir once again reveals internal confusion and division on the emotionally charged and politically sensitive issue. This move underscores the absence of a clear ‘Ayodhya doctrine’ within the party concerning the longstanding Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.
Sources suggest that several Congress leaders, particularly from northern and western states, were in favor of prominent figures such as Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury attending the ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22. However, dissenting voices from party leaders in southern states, including KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Ramesh Chennithala, led to the party’s decision to decline the invitation. These leaders argued that the Congress’s presence at the event would inadvertently boost the electoral prospects of the Narendra Modi-led BJP, which aims to leverage the temple inauguration for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In a recent assessment, some Congress leaders conducted a ‘cost-benefit analysis’ of attending the Ram Mandir event. They pointed out potential negative consequences such as a decline in Lok Sabha seats from Kerala and potential setbacks in staging comebacks in Karnataka and Telangana. They argued that attending the event, branded as a ‘Modi-BJP-RSS show,’ would not significantly enhance the party’s electoral fortunes in states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and other northern, western, and central Indian states where the Congress directly competes with the BJP.
The Congress also took into account the refusal of Left parties, Trinamool Congress, and other allies in the INDIA bloc to attend the Ayodhya event. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had labeled it as a BJP “gimmick show,” expressing skepticism about its political motives.
Notably, the Congress’s decision to skip the Ram Mandir event is not universally accepted within the party. Sources predict potential dissent in the near future, especially as some Congress leaders are already discontented with the ongoing seat-sharing talks and formulae with INDIA bloc partners. The party’s stance on the Ram Mandir issue may provide a pretext for some leaders to pursue an independent course of action.
The Ayodhya issue has historically been a source of confusion and division within the Congress. In 1992, during the demolition of the Babri Masjid, then-Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao faced internal criticism. Rao later accused his Congress colleagues of playing a devious game during the demolition, suggesting that they sought to assign themselves a specific role in history.
The Gandhi family, including Sonia, Rahul, and the late Rajiv Gandhi, has presented varying stances on the Ayodhya dispute over the years. Despite their efforts, the party has failed to gain significant political dividends from its positions on the issue. The Congress’s historical promises, ranging from ‘Ram Rajya’ to defending the Babri Masjid, have not translated into electoral success since 1992.
The party’s reluctance to convene a special AICC session or engage in transparent discussions about the Ram Mandir issue has perpetuated the internal confusion surrounding its stance, leaving its members grappling with divergent opinions.