Congress suffering from poor leadership syndrome in Telangana?

Congress took one of the biggest gambles of its political existence when it orchestrated Andhra Pradesh bifurcation. The Grand Old Party will face its Litmus Test on Wednesday when Telangana goes to polls to elect its first government. Will the gamble pay off? However, when viewed from a vantage point, Congress's fate hangs in balance. The reason is simple: lack of astute leadership.

From the very beginning, Congress depended too much on national leaders, that have very few takers at the state level. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were called upon to campaign in Telangana.  They lacked, what TRS has, a single unifying regional leader, K Chandrashekar Rao.
 After the Telangana Bill was passed in the Parliament, Congress, instead of depending on local leaders, rushed Jairam Ramesh to sooth frayed nerves. Lack of leadership at both grassroots level, and the middle rung,  can explain both its their eagerness and immense disappointment when KCR rejected the much promised merger with Congress.
Presently, all Congress leaders from Damodar Rajanarasimha to  PCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah do not enjoy widespread support, and their popularity is restricted to their constituencies.  Interestingly, they are yet to zero in on one name who will become CM, if congress is elected to power.
Congress today lacks a leader of the stature of Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who unlike the present crop of Congress leaders, toured the length and breadth of the state, covering Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Seemandhra to create awareness about the party.
The party will undoubtedly be on tenterhooks, as Telangana goes to polls. Will the people reward it for gifting them their state, or will it be vanquished? May 16 will give us the answers.

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-Siva@Sakshipost