The CBI’s stand in the special court seems to be intended to save former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which raises a pertinent question — is the Central Government trying to save himIJ Former Coal Secretary HC Gupta had told the court that the final decision for allocation of coal blocks had been taken at the then PM’s level, who was also holding the charge of Coal Ministry at the time. But the CBI defended Manmohan by saying that the former PM was kept in the dark, which means the coal blocks were allocated without his knowledge.
However, the Government is not showing such benevolence towards other Congress leaders, whose problems are mounting steadily. The CBI has registered cases against two big leaders of Rajasthan Congress — Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot — in the ambulance scam. Karti, son of P Chidambaram, and Ravi Krishan, son of Kerala’s veteran Vayalar Ravi, have also been made accused in the same case. Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh, former Central Minister Parneet Kaur, former CM of Delhi Sheila Dikshit, Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat and many other veteran leaders are embroiled in one controversy or the other. This has given the BJP ample opportunities to attack the Congress over the issue of corruption.
CONGRESS DIlEMMA IN UP
The Congress is not able to give a final shape to its strategy for Uttar Pradesh, just as it is unable to decide the agenda to start campaigning in the State. That is why the party’s programmes are being deferred. State leaders argue that since Rahul Gandhi doesn’t have time, the chintan shivir, which was scheduled to be held in Mathura on September 10 and 11, has been cancelled. Some leaders said that since notification for Panchayat Elections will be issued shortly, party leaders are busy finalising the candidates, which is why the shivir had to be cancelled. But the real reason behind this is that the party is not able to decide the issue on which chintan has to be done!
The Congress’s biggest dilemma is what will be the party’s strategy for the State Government. It has not decided whether it has to be in an attacking mode against Samajwadi Party Government, like it was in the last elections, or if it has to focus against the BJP and Narendra Modi, keeping national politics in mind.
Earlier, the Congress had decided to attack Modi and this was the reason why Rahul’s padyatra was scheduled at Varanasi, but the dates were never fixed. After that, the party decided to hold a chintan shivir at Mathura but that too was postponed. Sources say after Panchayat Elections, the State party president and in-charge general secretary will be changed and then Rahul’s campaign will start.
KEJRIWAl’S GUIDElINES
When Arvind Kejriwal had not entered the political realm, he frequently attacked leaders. He was of the view that all leaders were corrupt and dishonest. But when he became a leader himself, his outlook changed. Now he is of the view that leaders are respectable and all officials must respect them. So, he has issued new guidelines to officials. Such guidelines were earlier issued in Kerala. The last left Front Government in Kerala had given instructions to officials that they must respect leaders, and must pay heed to their suggestions. On the same lines, the Kejriwal Government has issued instructions to its officials.
It is evident that Kejriwal is getting close to left leaders. Maybe that’s why he is following the guidelines of the previous Kerala Government and has asked his officials to follow these instructions — if an MlA or MP wants to meet them, they are to give an appointment promptly, if MlAs or MPs come to meet them, officials are to stand up to receive them, and when they leave, babus have to see them off too.
Officials have also been instructed to answer all phone calls of public representatives. The guideline also state that in public functions, seating arrangements for MPs and MlAs should be according to their post. It means MPs or MlAs must not be ignored anywhere and at any point of time.
BJP’S SlOW CAMPAIGN
Parliament’s Monsoon Session has been over a while now, but ministers and MPs of the BJP have not started their agitation in the constituencies of Congress and left MPs. On the last day of the Session, Prime Minister Modi had told MPs of NDA that they must go to the constituencies of 44 Congress MPs and tell the people how their leaders disrupted Parliament and didn’t allow crucial decisions to be made which were necessary for the development of the country.
After PM’s instructions, teams were set up formally that were supposed to go to different areas. Some ministers were also part of these teams.
This made the Congress and left jittery and their MPs started visiting their constituencies. Congress Vice-President Rahul visited Amethi, and Sonia will soon go to Raebareli.
But except Smriti Irani, no minister went to the constituencies of Congress MPs. It must be noted that Smriti and Rao Indrajit Singh are part of a team which has been assigned the responsibilities for UP. Separate teams have also been formed for West Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and other States.
Probably, right now there is no pressure from the top level for this campaign because the Government has to call a special session to get the GST Bill passed.
ANYTHING FOR NITISH
In the Swabhiman Rally of Patna, Sonia had to make a lot of compromises. She didn’t get the central seat on the stage and she had to deliver her speech before lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav. Congress leaders say it was only for Nitish’s sake that the party swallowed this insult. After all, it was the Congress that had proposed the name of Nitish as the leader of Bihar’s grand alliance, and had to stand behind him.
Sources in the Congress say that if Sonia had not gone to the rally, lalu would have become the hero of the show. In that case, Nitish would have become weak in comparison to lalu, and the BJP would have taken advantage of this. The Congress and Nitish never wanted lalu to steal the limelight.
Even though Sonia was not supposed to go to Patna, Nitish made special efforts to ensure her presence at the rally. Earlier, Rahul had refused to share the dais with lalu. Congress leaders were not happy with the growing closeness between Nitish and Kejriwal. But Nitish personally invited Sonia and she agreed. It was Nitish who went to receive Sonia at the stage and saw her off after the rally. During the entire function, awkwardness between Sonia and lalu was evident. When Sonia finished her speech, all leaders gave her a standing ovation, but lalu remained seated.
OUTSIDERS IN COMMAND
In Bihar and UP, the BJP has roped in a team of party leaders from outside the State. There is a lot of infighting among the party leaders in both States. So Amit Shah has sent his tried and trusted lieutenants there. The next two months are election time in Bihar and leaders of the State BJP are busy campaigning, but the strategy and campaign management are being handled by outside leaders.
Generally, state in-charge happens to be from outside, but in Bihar commanding leaders other than State in-charge are outsiders. The BJP has not formed a election campaign committee. Central Minister and leader from Karnataka, Ananth Kumar, has been made election in-charge. Apart from these, Saudan Singh and Nagendra are looking after some other tasks related to elections. The State has been divided into four zones and leaders such as Pawan Sharma and CR Patil have been given charge.
In UP too, the BJP has roped in teams of leaders from outside. OP Mathur is State in-charge and around half a dozen leaders have been made co- incharges. Among these, Ramesh Bidhuri is from Delhi, while Satyendra Kushwaha and Rameshwar Chaurasia are from Bihar. Virendra Khatik from MP and Sunil Ojha from Gujarat are also a part of the team. Sunil Bansal, who is from Rajasthan, is taking care of several tasks as sangathan mantri.
SURVEY STRATEGY OF AAP
AAP has started a new political culture, and took full advantage of it in the Delhi elections. Before the elections, AAP conducted a survey and released its results. The party claimed that Kejriwal was more popular than other leaders. At the time when the BJP had not declared its candidate, Kejriwal put himself in comparison with Vijendar Gupta, and declared himself more popular. He also advertised the surveys done by other media houses, but the most useful card was to publish the party’s own survey.
AAP is using the same technique in Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections. For the first time, AAP is in the fray in these elections. Traditionally, DU is considered to be ABVP and NSUI stronghold. These organisations have been winning DUSU elections for years. But this time AAP’s student wing, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), has put up its candidates. Even before declaring its candidate, AAP conducted a survey and put up the results on North and South Campus of DU. In its survey, AAP claimed that it will win the elections. According to this so-called survey, CYSS has the support of almost 50 per cent students, and ABVP and NSUI are far behind.
Almost 10 days after putting up posters, banners and hoardings about the result of this survey, CYSS declared its candidates. A leader of the party says there are two advantages of this strategy — first, the Opposition organisations have been demoralised, and confusion has crept in among DU students.