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Congress's Politics of Appeasement Undermines Its Opposition Credibility

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, December 17th 2025 at 14:08 GMT by ThePrint

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The Politics of Appeasement in Congress: Why the Party is Failing as Opposition – A Look at Chhattisgarh’s CM and the Wider Implications

The Indian National Congress has long been the principal alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but the party’s legacy of “politics of appeasement” has eroded its credibility as a credible opposition. The recent piece on The Print underscores this theme through an examination of Congress’s performance at the national level, its shaky position as a third‑party force, and a specific case study of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel, who has openly criticised the BJP while simultaneously grappling with internal party politics that mirror the same old patterns of compromise.

1. The DNA of Appeasement

The article opens by tracing the roots of Congress’s appeasement doctrine. Since the 1970s, the party has been accused of yielding to the ruling power’s whims in order to maintain political survival. The “politics of appeasement” is not limited to coalition politics but extends to the very ideology of Congress: a tendency to avoid hard‑line stances, a preference for consensus over confrontation, and an overarching desire to stay within the ambit of the political mainstream.

In the contemporary context, this translates into a refusal to present a robust policy platform that challenges the BJP’s narrative. The party’s parliamentary strategy has largely been one of “watch‑and‑wait” rather than proactive debate. This is evident in the minimal number of questions filed in the Lok Sabha, the low turnout for floor‑sitting debates, and the failure to hold the ruling government accountable for high‑profile controversies such as the alleged misuse of political funds, the handling of the COVID‑19 crisis, and the controversies surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The article cites the 2019 general elections as a case study: Congress lost over 40 seats in the Lok Sabha, a significant drop from its 2014 tally, and its presence in Parliament became a statistical footnote rather than a political force. Critics argue that this loss was not just due to a weak electoral campaign but also because Congress’s own policy positions were perceived as vague and indecisive.

2. Failure as Opposition in the National Arena

The article underscores that the real problem lies in Congress’s failure to play the role of an “effective opposition.” The concept of a functional opposition is central to parliamentary democracy. It is expected that the opposition will scrutinise bills, challenge the executive, and present a credible alternative to the ruling party. Congress has missed this mark on multiple fronts:

• Minimal Parliamentary Participation: Over the last two sessions of the Lok Sabha, the opposition as a whole filed fewer than 30 questions per session. The Congress’s contribution was negligible.
• Lack of Issue‑Based Debate: The party has failed to galvanise public opinion on key policy fronts such as farmer distress, industrial policy, or the environment.
• Fragmentation and Leadership Vacuum: Internal feuds between the veteran wing (led by former presidents like Sitaram Yechury) and the new generation (represented by leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor) have diluted the party’s messaging. The article notes that Congress’s top leadership is often preoccupied with internal power struggles rather than national policy debates.

The article also references the “Opposition Day” that was scheduled for the 2022 Lok Sabha sessions but had to be abandoned due to a lack of substantive opposition. This event illustrated how Congress’s inability to coordinate a united front in Parliament is a public embarrassment.

3. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel: A Microcosm

To illustrate the broader problem, the article turns to Chhattisgarh, where Congress has been in power since 2018 under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Baghel has become a vocal critic of the BJP on a number of issues, especially regarding the tribal welfare and forest rights in the state. However, his criticisms are often diluted by the same appeasement culture that plagues Congress at the national level.

The article highlights several instances:

• The Tribal Land Dispute: Baghel’s government has taken steps to protect tribal land, but has simultaneously entered into agreements with private corporations that critics argue undermine tribal rights.
• The Anti‑Corruption Crusade: While Baghel has denounced corruption in the BJP’s ranks, his own administration has faced allegations of nepotism—most notably, the appointment of a close aide of Baghel’s mother as a senior bureaucrat.
• The Response to the 2021 COVID‑19 Surge: Baghel’s government was lauded for quick containment measures, yet his public statements largely echo the central government’s narrative, rather than offering a critical stance.

Through these examples, the article argues that even at the state level, the “politics of appeasement” manifests as a strategy of cautious criticism that rarely leads to real policy change. Baghel’s statements often come across as “political rhetoric” rather than substantive opposition.

4. Implications for Congress’s Future

The article ties together the themes of appeasement and ineffective opposition by pointing to the long‑term consequences for Congress:

• Loss of Credibility Among the Electorate: A party that fails to challenge the ruling government risks being seen as a mere “token opposition.” Voters who seek accountability and alternative solutions will look elsewhere, as seen in the rise of regional parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party and the Trinamool Congress.
• Erosion of Internal Unity: A lack of clear, decisive policy positions fuels factionalism. Leaders feel compelled to negotiate with the ruling party to secure personal political gains, which further weakens the party’s collective image.
• Strategic Vulnerability: With the BJP’s dominance, a party that does not present a coherent alternative will be easily sidelined in future elections. The article cites the 2024 Lok Sabha election as a critical juncture for Congress to redefine its opposition role or face further marginalisation.

5. Potential Remedies

The article also offers a set of pragmatic steps Congress could adopt:

1. Policy‑First Approach: Draft a clear manifesto that outlines concrete proposals for economic reform, agrarian distress, climate change, and social welfare. The policy must be data‑driven and free from internal bargaining.
2. Re‑energising Parliamentary Presence: Increase the number of questions and debates filed. Set up a dedicated parliamentary committee that scrutinises bills in real time, rather than waiting for committee reports.
3. Unity in Leadership: The senior leadership should step back and allow younger leaders to shape the policy narrative. A merit‑based approach to nominations for parliamentary roles would reduce factionalism.
4. Engage Civil Society: Use NGOs and think‑tanks as partners in policy development, ensuring that Congress’s opposition is grounded in on‑the‑ground realities.
5. Public Accountability: Publicly hold any party member who engages in questionable practices. Transparent disciplinary procedures will build public trust.

6. Conclusion

The article concludes by reiterating that the “politics of appeasement” is a fundamental flaw that has become ingrained in the Congress party’s DNA. Whether at the national level or in states like Chhattisgarh, the tendency to compromise and to avoid confrontation has prevented Congress from fulfilling its role as a dynamic opposition. In a democratic polity, the opposition is not a passive observer but an active participant that holds the government to account. For Congress to regain relevance, it must break out of its appeasement culture, adopt a policy‑driven stance, and rebuild a unified, proactive opposition that can stand as a credible alternative to the BJP.