dated August 21, 1951: Congress needs Nehru

Harekrishna Mahtab, former member of the Congress Working Committee, asked the party forthwith to change its ways, and work committedly under the leadership of Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru who ``has today the largest contact with the people, and is also face-to-face with the problems of the country''. Mr. Mahtab's call was a sequel to Mr. Nehru's resignation from the Working Committee, in the aftermath of Mr. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai quitting the Central Cabinet. Asserting that the selection of members for the executive of the Congress should have Mr. Nehru's approval, Mr. Mahtab asked the Congress President, Mr. Purushotamdas Tandon, to be practical and accept the counsel of the one man who mattered the most and who alone could deliver the goods for the party and the nation. He continued, ``Our conservatism has made us totally unmindful of obvious change; we have wanted to realise our wishful thinking of maintaining the status quo; we have tried this for a year, and now we should frankly admit we have failed. The problem should not be belittled by bringing in the names of Mr. Kidwai and Mr. Kripalani, and over simplifying it further by expressing pious wishes for some kind of adjustment. We require a thorough change. ... One's first reaction to Mr. Nehru's resignation would be to let the Congress Committee accept it, and let the Congress adjust itself to later realities. I have no doubt that, in that process, the Congress will not remain what it is today. The Congress will not only lose the next elections, it will perhaps go under for some time. Thereafter, it may come out more vigorous and powerful, but neither any Congressman nor the nation can afford such a risky experiment. The alternative is to take courage in our hands right now and bring about changes willingly, however unpleasant they may be. As a great political party, the Congress must make itself fit to face the problems of the country. It can no longer afford engaging itself in maintaining an unworkable constitution, and in repairing the party machinery all the time. The Congress can adjust to the problems of the country only if it places itself fully under the leadership of the person who actually is on the job facing the problems. There is no personal consideration here.''

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