The Background

 What was supposed to be an election procedure ended up being an eviction race. Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan, was the High Command's initial selection. However, Sachin Pilot was forced out of Rajasthan after Ashok Gehlot refused to accept him as his replacement. The High Command next turned its attention to another veteran, Kamal Nath, who reportedly declined, claiming he was preoccupied with upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh. Then, it is said, Mukul Wasnik, the relatively new leader of Maharashtra, was apparently contacted, but he too refused. When the party's 80-year-old super-senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge entered the race, the doughty warhorse Digvijaya Singh withdrew.

 Rahul Gandhi deserves praise for pressuring the Congress to hold a race for the top spot, which is finalised now between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor. Both the Congress' allies and opponents are closely following the unusual turn of events.

 The issue with the Congress party is the inbreeding, which only results in shoots that are malformed and stunted. Congress workers revere the Gandhi family, but they abhor the hegemony of a small number of families that stifles all of their opportunities for advancement. According to Rahul Gandhi, Many people inside the institution must depart, and a lot more from outside must enter, for Congress to function.

Tharoor vs Kharge: The Rat Race

 Mallikarjun Kharge is an unwavering Gandhi family supporter who is devoted to The Family. He entered the leadership race at the age of 80 since he had nothing to lose, even if he ended up being a worthless rubber stamp.

 The race is currently between "outsider" Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a nominee from the family with the least amount of reluctance. Although Tharoor may not be well-liked within his own party, he is quite popular outside, especially among key demographics like the young and urban middle class, both of which rejected the Congress in the previous two elections, according to post-poll data.

 The Tharoor-Kharge fight, however, appears to be a no-contest. On the Gandhis' orders, the party's heavyweights have thrown their support behind Mallikarjun Kharge. Shashi Tharoor has made his candidacy significant by standing out for the crucial value of inner-party democracy. He established the All India Professional Congress, an organisation, consisting of a small group of MPs who signed his candidacy form, but he is starting to appear more and more like a lone ranger. Kumari Selja, the head of the Haryana Congress, even went so far as to publicly ask him to withdraw. The pious claim that neither the Gandhis nor the High Command has endorsed a particular candidate is nothing more than the dishonest doublespeak that is so emblematic of the Congress. Everyone is aware that Mallikarjun Kharge enjoys The Family's favour.

What makes Shashi Tharoor a viable contender?

 There are two characteristics that set Shashi Tharoor apart from other politicians, including Congressmen and Congresswomen. First, he blatantly asserts his right to something that, in his knowledge, may not be his. Second, he has the ability to recover after being abandoned by his compatriots.

 At first, Tharoor's candidacy wasn't considered a serious idea. He was perceived as little more than a fortunate and talkative MP from a coastal region deep down south.  Tharoor did not demonstrate the qualities of a leader with unwavering loyalty to the self-declared high command based on his actions, not his genuflections. Tharoor was the only candidate in the race, making it seem as though the party lacked somebody who could confidently assume the presidency. When he was the only serious candidate, he appeared to be the recipient of its support and blessing. The problems and motivations were then made clear.

 The reforms that Tharoor has been advocating are elections to the Congress Working Committee and the Parliamentary Board, which are fundamental to the concept of collective consultation, as well as their revival. Making these influential decision-making bodies supreme is intended to impress voters, give the party a better CV, and avoid using as many words to claim that the party has drastically reduced the high command culture. It will no longer be necessary to address "The Question" of "Who is the Boss.?" A question that has been haunting Congress since “2014.”

 The combination of vigour, knowledge, and efficiency that Tharoor possesses is what sets him in excellent stead because the arthritic organisation needs these qualities more than ever. Congress members may not at last place their whole trust in the top command, whose unique gift to the party has been its steady emasculation, especially younger workers who are not seduced by the provincial prejudices of ageing leaders. By adopting a political stance independent of the needs of the top command, the party can still be saved.

Final Thoughts: Can a new leader revitalise and change the Congress?

 The Congress Party is currently faced with a dual challenge: articulating a hopeful and aspirational vision for the country while also working to address the organisational and structural issues that have hampered its recent accomplishments. A new leader, who has not been too long ingrained in the current system, might revitalise a party that unquestionably needs it and, at the same time, appeal to more voters than the Congress did in the most recent elections. A democratic election will stimulate a healthy and productive discussion about reforms, bringing liveliness to all levels.

Generally speaking, and without necessarily referring to a specific election, the role of strong opposition is essential since it determines how well any democracy runs. It mostly determines whether legislation is properly implemented in Parliament with sufficient consultation.  A strong opposition is better able to represent the interests of people who abstained from voting, hold the current administration accountable, and impose course corrections when necessary.