Dynastic parties sink with others: finance minister jibe at Congress

New Delhi: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday took a dig at the Congress leadership saying that dynastic parties succeed on the strength of some generations, but sink with the others. He wondered whether the Grand Old Party was paying the cost of its dynastic character.

Nowadays, the minister said, some generic statements being frequently heard from Congress leaders are — “What can I do? He just doesn’t listen; Wait for May 24, our politics will begin thereafter; I feel like quitting; Our campaign planning is lagging behind. I am told Uncle Sam has come to take care of it; Let’s prepare 2024”.

“They (the dynastic parties) succeed on the strength of some generations of the dynasty. They sink with the others,” Mr Jaitley said in his blog ahead of the seven-phase general elections beginning April 11.

Dynastic parties have one major drawback, the minister said, adding, “If the current generation of the party is competent, charismatic and enjoys popular confidence, the dynast can pull-off major victories. There is an incentive in the party to rally behind him.

“However, if the current generation dynast is lacking in charisma, understanding and popular confidence, the crowd around the family gets increasingly frustrated. Is the Congress witnessing that?”

Stating that dynasties impose leaders, he said these leaders don’t become great — greatness is thrust on them.

“There is little place for men of high calibre in dynastic parties. An insecure leader is scared of the shadow of more talented people,” he said.

The finance minister wondered whether “is this the reason for the current mood within the Congress? Or is it also the reason which persuades the Congress president to cross the line of decency and dignity when he refers to the Prime Minister”?