Arvind Kejriwal and Naveen Patnaik are the only two Chief Ministers who are completely cut off from national politics. They have their own islands — they don’t either go with the BJP or with the Congress. The third front has always existed in India, and the rest of the parties are a part of it. But what is interesting is that neither Kejriwal nor Patnaik are in that front. Some Opposition leaders are in touch with the two, but that is issue based.
When Mamata Banerjee had taken the initiative to form a federal front, she had contacted these two CMs. later, she also indulged in a lot of politics against demonetisation with Kejriwal. But later, she joined the Congress faction and started maintaining a distance from Kejriwal. But after the recent result of the Bawana byelection, where the AAP has won, Mamata congratulated Kejriwal and started a new channel of contact.
So, the question is will Mamata succeed in taking on board the Opposition lobby by her own effortsIJ There is least possibility of this as the Congress is against this move. The Congress had got nearly 25 per cent votes on the Bawana seat and there is hope that the Poorvanchali and slumdweller vote bank might return to the party. So, the Congress doesn’t want to go with anybody as far as Delhi politics is concerned. Though nothing is impossible in politics, right now, the chances of Kejriwal joining the Congress brigade are bleak.
Despite all these facts, Kejriwal will stick to Opposition politics. His party-men had backed the Congress candidates in the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections. There is another possibility also: If the Opposition doesn’t form a mahagathbandhan, then he will be a part of the third front, which has slowly started taking shape. Either Mamata or a left leader will lead this front as both will not join the Congress alliance. Mayawati can also become a part of this front. But the question is will Kejriwal share the stage with herIJ It is also true that the Delhi CM will keep communication lines open with parties that will be left out of the respective alliances of the BJP and Congress.
JAGAN CONG’S SOlE OPTION
On August 23, byelections on four seats from three States were held. Digvijaya Singh was the Congress incharge of two States out of the three where byelections were held. In these two States, the Congress faced a predicament, especially in Andhra Pradesh. The party didn’t even get 1,000 votes in the Nandyal bypolls, which was even lesser votes than NOTA!
There are many reasons for this predicament of the Congress, but Jaganmohan Reddy’s separation from the party and division of the State are the two main ones. The Congress can’t turn back the decision of division of the State, but it can try to take Jagan back into the party fold. It is being said that some Congress leaders have already started making attempts in this direction.
After the result of the Nandyal byelections, both Jagan and the Congress have become aware of the fact that they can’t challenge Chandrababu Naidu on their own. After the results, Naidu proudly announced that the TDP would win all elections henceforth. Naidu has worked hard, especially for the new Capital, and that is why people are of the view that he can’t be challenged at least for one more election.
Jagan has taken the services of Prashant Kishor, who has been the poll manager of the BJP, JDU, Congress, and SP. But there is least possibility that he will be able to accomplish a miracle in the next one and half years. Despite this, it is certain that Jagan will pose tough challenge. But if the same situation prevails, it will be tough for the Congress to open its account in the State. That is why Congress leaders are trying to take Jagan back into the party. If he comes back, the strength of the Congress will automatically go up. Though there is another problem: The Congress is being held responsible for the division of the State. In this case, it will be interesting to see whether or not Jagan takes the risk of going with the Congress.
PARTY HOPPERS OF AAP
One of the party hoppers of the AAP has lost an election again. In 2015, Ved Prakash had won the Bawana seat from an AAP ticket. He had defeated the BJP’s Gagan Singh and three-time MlA of the Congress, Surendra Singh. But he changed his gear when the AAP lost the Punjab and Goa elections, Rajouri Garden byelections, and then the MCD elections. He had joined the BJP and the party made him its candidate from Bawana. However, he faced bad defeat. Ramchandra of the AAP defeated him by 24,000 votes.
The AAP had shown great maturity while selecting its candidate. The party didn’t give a ticket to Gagan Singh, who had joined the party after leaving the BJP. He had fought the last two elections on the BJP ticket and lost. He was hopeful of getting a ticket from the AAP, but that didn’t happen.
Before Ved Prakash, Vinod Kumar Binny had changed tack. In 2013, Binny had won the election and was desperate to become a minister, so in 2015, he joined the BJP. He lost the 2015 Assembly Elections and later lost the municipal council election from Khichripur as well.
Now, all eyes are on party hopper Kapil Mishra. He has not aligned with any party yet, but some say that after Bawana byelections, his anti-Kejriwal campaign will be toned down. After the recent results, he also congratulated Kejriwal. Some time ago, the BJP leaders had claimed that around two dozen MlAs of the AAP were in touch with them. But in the present scenario, these MlAs will think twice before deciding to change their party. They are aware of the fact that though people are sympathetic towards the BJP, they won’t shy away from teaching a lesson to party hoppers.
MEGA MEETING OF RSS
The RSS has become quite active. Meetings of the organisation are being held in different parts of the country. Recently, an important meeting was held at Rajghat in Delhi. It was organised by the intellectual cell of the RSS and many bigwigs participated, including Mohan Bhagwat and Dattatreya Hosabale. There was no public debate over the agenda of the meeting, but presumably it was convened to express the RSS view on various issues in the country.
Every year, a coordination meeting is held by the RSS, and this time, it will be held between September 1 to 3 in Mathura. In that meeting, leaders from 40 subsidiary organisations along with RSS stalwarts will be participating. Recently, there were some changes in the RSS and this is the first co-ordination meeting after that. It is being said that the RSS is keeping an eye on areas for expansion, where it is seeing huge possibilities. Kerala and West Bengal would be especially discussed in the meeting.