The Congress party in Maharashtra is losing its traditional support base. Many loyalist families' younger generations are joining rival parties or leaving politics, weakening the Congress's organization before upcoming local elections. The party suffered its worst assembly poll defeat last year, winning only 16 seats
File Photo.
Once a formidable force in Maharashtra, the Congress is facing a silent but steady erosion of its traditional support base as the new generation of several loyalist families – once the party's backbone – are either aligning with rivals or retreating from active politics.
This shift is weakening the Congress's organisational depth and compounding its troubles ahead of the crucial local body polls this year, according to party sources. Last year, the party faced its worst rout in assembly polls, winning only 16 seats in the 288-member House, despite contesting 101 seats in alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).
In recent months, leaders from families with long-standing Congress ties have made moves that reflect the party's diminishing appeal among its once-committed base. Senior Congressman Anant Gadgil, who belongs to perhaps one of the last loyalist families remaining committed to the party, expressed concern over the spree of desertions by the second generation of families associated with the organisation for decades.
Gadgil, a third-generation politician, told PTI that as a person deeply embedded with Congress ideology, he was concerned about the future of the 139-year-old party. He said he was disturbed to see that children of his father's (V.N. Gadgil) colleagues in the Central cabinet and many others have left the Congress and joined the BJP.
In Maharashtra, for example, ex-Union minister Milind Deora left the Congress in 2024 and is now a Shiv Sena MP. In Sangli, Satyajit Deshmukh, son of staunch Congressman Shivajirao Deshmukh, joined the BJP.
"Look at the irony. The BJP, which aligned with other parties to unceremoniously remove Shivajirao Deshmukh as chairman of the council, later made his son an MLA. In Dhule, Kunal Patil, son of staunch Congressman Rohidas Patil, recently joined the BJP," Gadgil stated.
"In Pune, Sangram Thopte, son of another Congressman and ex-minister Anantrao Thopte, joined the BJP claiming the Congress did not reward him suitably. Rajashri Patil, granddaughter-in-law of Congress stalwart Vasantdada Patil, too, joined the BJP," he added.
"Satyajit Tambe, nephew of senior leader Balasaheb Thorat and once believed to be close to Rahul Gandhi, not only became an independent MLC but also a critic of Rahulji. All of them belonged to the traditional Congress families," the former MLC noted. Archana Patil, daughter-in-law of Congressman Shivraj Patil, moved to the BJP before the 2024 assembly polls and contested from Latur City against Congress's Amit Deshmukh.
Gadgil observed that over the years there has been a change of approach within the Congress which is not going down well with loyalists as well as cadres. "There is a growing feeling among loyalists that party hoppers are immediately rewarded. They point out that in Maharashtra, in the last 10-12 years, prominent posts were given to those who had either earlier deserted the Congress or joined Congress with a party-hopping record. There is an issue of wrong choice of (poll) candidates. Loyal Congressmen are unable to digest all this," he argued.
According to him, some senior functionaries are of the view that the party's national leaders are not getting the right feedback. "(Congress MPs) Soniaji, Rahulji, and (President Mallikarjun) Khargeji have to look after party affairs in the entire nation. It's wrong to expect them to know everything. Therefore, party observers are appointed during polls. But if observers lack in their assessment, the party suffers," Gadgil contended.
He highlighted that the Pune Lok Sabha seat, once won by his grandfather and later his father multiple times, is now with the BJP, whose candidate Murlidhar Mohol defeated Ravindra Dhangekar (Congress) in June 2024.
"The Congress fielded a candidate (in Lok Sabha polls) who had switched two parties. He lost and yet he was repeated for assembly polls (in November 2024). He lost that too. Now, he has left the party. All this happened in 9 to 10 months," he noted.
Gadgil believes the Congress needs to be on the streets addressing issues like the Election Commission's "partisan" approach, "mishandling of the post-Pahalgam situation," and unemployment. He drew parallels to the past, noting that the Congress split in 1969 but swept back to power at the Centre in 1971. "The party lost in 1977, but came back to power at the Centre in 1980. The Congress is like a phoenix," he argued.
"Many of these younger politicians don't see a future in the Congress anymore. The organisation is weak. Their switch is more about survival than ideology," noted a senior Congressman, who did not wish to be named. Political observers said the problem in the Maharashtra Congress is not just one of defections but of fading generational loyalty. Families that stood by the Congress through decades now find their younger members disconnected from the party's ideological moorings, they said.
"Earlier, being with the Congress meant stature, access to Delhi, and legacy. Today, it means being in the opposition without direction," said a political analyst.
Congress leaders, however, sought to downplay the impact of the exodus of leaders.
"Yes, some have left, but these are individual choices. The Congress still has a committed cadre and support among people," said MPCC working president Naseem Khan.
A senior leader, who did not wish to be quoted, admitted there is unrest among the new generation of families loyal to the Congress. He pointed to a lack of communication and political direction and asked, "where is the face to lead the party in the state?"
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