Priyanka
on 7th Heaven
The outcome of Himachal Pradesh polls
has sent Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her supporters on
7th Heaven. She was perhaps the lone star campaigner of the party as neither
Sonia Gandhi nor Rahul Gandhi addressed any of the election meetings. Priyanka
Gandhi chose her own team which included Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh
Baghel, Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder
Singh Hooda and a handful of others. After the Congress win when Rajiv Shukla
was asked if the credit for the win goes to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he shot
back, "Of course. Who else?". Ever since Priyanka Gandhi entered
politics, she had no feathers in her cap. Though she is affable and soft-spoken
and worked hard in UP Assembly polls. But there was no luck. Her
experiments in Punjab cost dearly to the party too. But Himachal win has
brought feathers in her cap. The next challenge for the Congress indeed
will be in 2023 as Assembly polls are due in 10 states. Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat
Jodo Yatra' may have generated some goodwill for the former party president.
But it's real test will be in Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in 2023-24.
Opposition
unity a far cry
The BJP lost power in Delhi MCD polls
after ruling it for 15 years and came a cropper in Himachal Pradesh. The
Opposition parties prevented the BJP a clean sweep in all three states as it
claimed and resorted to massive campaigning by using every weapon in its
armory. But except for Gujarat where it created history, the BJP has no reason
to rejoice. Himachal Pradesh may be a tiny state but results showed that the
state did not buck the trend. Himachal Pradesh is known for changing
governments every five years for several decades. However, the victory of AAP
in Delhi and Congress in Himachal Pradesh would not lead to unity among the
Opposition parties to take on the BJP collectively in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The TMC and AAP may have attended a meeting called by Congress president
Mallikarjun Kharge for floor coordination in Parliament. But many parties
missed it including BSP, TRS, YSR Congress, JD (S) and others. Such floor
coordinations have no meaning as all these parties are eating into the vote
bank of Congress Party only. The AIMIM has been walking out with a
sizable number of minority votes in states after states. The AAP did the
same in Gujarat where it obtained 13% plus votes and damaged the Congress
in 30-odd seats. It is desperate to replace Congress wherever possible.
The Congress win may have given some relief to the leadership. Therefore, the
Opposition unity may remain a pipe dream only.
An
unusual Sonia-Nitish meeting
Details of a
close-door meeting between Sonia Gandhi and Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U)
supremo Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav at 10 Janpath have now
surfaced. The meeting took place after five long years between Sonia Gandhi and
Nitish Kumar a couple of months ago. It was reported then that the meeting was
sought by Nitish Kumar and it was cordial. The purpose of this meeting was to
break the ice as the JD (U) leader had walked out of RJD-Congress alliance in
2017 to join hands with the BJP. It now transpires that it was Lalu Prasad
Yadav who called up Sonia Gandhi to request a meeting at a short notice. Sonia
Gandhi was getting ready to go somewhere and was reluctant to meet as it was a
Sunday. But she agreed. Lalu and Nitish came separately in their respective
cars and by the time they reached 10 Janpath, Sonia Gandhi was already out of
her room. It transpires that she talked to Lalu and Nitish Kumar for barely 10
minutes while standing as she was getting late. She exchanged pleasantries and
was apologetic for not being able to host them properly at a short notice. If
Nitish Kumar’s purpose was to emerge as leader of the Opposition’s pack, the
purpose was not achieved. It was a signal to Nitish Kumar that Congress may not
concede its space to him as easily as was the case in 2017. Nitish Kumar had
come to Delhi after attending an INLD rally in Haryana and wanted to meet Sonia
Gandhi at a short notice. The meeting did take place. But the outcome was not
very encouraging.
BJP to field 60+ new faces in LS
The
BJP may be preparing for Assembly polls in 9 states in 2023. But it is
simultaneously working for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. If
reports emanating from the BJP headquarters are any indication,
the party has decided to field at least 60-70 new faces in the Lok Sabha
polls. The BJP trio comprising PM Modi, Amit Shah and J P Nadda are
holding regular meetings with state unit chiefs and identifying new faces.
It transpires that all above the age of 75 will be replaced including several
union ministers. For example, UP MLA Rajeshwar Singh has already been told to
work for the Lok Sabha seat Ghaziabad, presently represented by Gen. VK Singh.
There are more than 15 sitting MPs who will cross the 75 years age barrier.
Similarly, Kuldeep Bishnoi who quit the Congress and joined the BJP is keen to
contest from Hisar Lok Sabha seat in 2024. This will put a question mark on the
future of Birjinder Singh who is a sitting MP and son of former Union Minister
Chaudhary Birender Singh. Gujarat’s former Deputy CM Nitin Patel may now be
fielded from Mehsana replacing the sitting MP. The BJP leadership has
been holding marathon meetings with Maharashtra leaders to identify seats and
new faces for Lok Sabha polls. An extensive survey work in all
constituencies is underway to gauge the mood.
