NEW DELHI, March 6 -- "It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life story will develop." The Congress party seems to have taken a leaf out of this saying as is exemplified during its 85th plenary session. It is for the first time that the party is out of power for a period of 10 years at a stretch. This has opened its eyes; it knows that 2024 general elections could be its last bus to reach the seat of power and if it fails to catch it, the result will be ominous.

Coming to terms with the reality, the party has rightly made it clear that it is ready to make compromises for the "unity of secular and socialist forces." It has announced its willingness to go all out to identify, mobilise and ali...