Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
A political leader should be more than just an administrator—they should be a people person.
Leadership in public service isn’t about managing files and attending meetings; it’s about staying connected with the grassroots, especially party workers who form the backbone of any political movement.
When a leader is truly in touch with party workers,they remain connected with the people, irrespective of political or religious affiliations.
Unfortunately, in our country, many leaders lose this connection once they gain power.
They isolate themselves, surrounding only with businesspeople and officials, ignoring the very workers who helped them rise.
When challenges arise, those same officials often distance themselves.But if a leader is genuinely rooted in the community, it is the workers who will take to the streets and raise their voice in support.
That is the real strength of a political leader—the unwavering support of the people.
Before electing a Member of Parliament or Legislative Assembly, we must ask: how many ordinary voters from their own constituency do they actually know? Do they spend time listening to their issues?.
A sad reality is that many top leaders are inaccessible— workers wait all day to meet them, only to be ignored.But there are exceptions.
Leaders like indira Gandhi,Rajiv Gandhi, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, Jayalalithaa,and Oommen Chandy set a benchmark.
They earned the love of the people not through power,but through compassion, accessibility, and genuine service.
These leaders didn’t just hold office—they held people’s hearts.And that’s the kind of leadership our country needs.
When party workers complained to Jayalalithaa about a minister who ignored them and failed to engage with the grassroots, she immediately asked him to step down from his ministerial position.This is the kind of decisive leadership that earns respect and loyalty.
Congress leadership—especially Sonia Gandhi,Rahul Gandhi,and Priyanka Gandhi—should adopt a similar approach.
When a leader,after gaining a position,chooses to ignore party workers and surrounds themselves only with police officers and high-profile individuals, action must be taken without delay.
If such issues are addressed firmly and promptly, the Congress Party can rebuild its strength and return to power.
