The soundness of the Congress’ decision to change the horses in mid of political race is all set to be tested in the Panchayati Raj polls.
The results are expected to show how acceptable was the party’s choice to hand over the reins to Partap Singh Bajwa after taking it from former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
The Zila Parishad and Block Samiti polls would not only be a litmus test for Bajwa who will lead the party in the grass root level elections after the party’s continuous drubbing in series of elections, including the 2012 Assembly polls. But, it would also decide the fate of the Congress party in the State.
Punjab Congress is not only fighting the political contest in Panchayati Raj polls, but also the legal battle against “illegal” delimitation of panchayat wards in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In a “do-or-die” ballot battle for the Congress, its senior leadership has infused its full force in the elections with even the central ministers, members of parliament, besides legislators campaigning round-the-clock for the party candidates.
While, on the other hand, Shiromani Akali Dal has adopted a soft attitude with both the chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy son Sukhbir Badal not campaigning for the party’s candidates.
Bajwa is facing a tough task to ensure party’s victory at the grass root level elections — after one after another defeats in state assembly polls, two bypoll, civic body polls, and also in the two panthic body elections including Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
Besides, he also has the challenge to keep his flocks together as several Congressmen has gave up the “hand” to hold the “scale”, including one of the sitting MlA.
Bajwa is also facing a herculean ordeal to involve the grass root level workers in party’s decision-making process, and take them along, in addition to regain the party’s popularity at the ground level.
One of the main reasons for the party’s resounding defeat in the Assembly polls was turned out to be detachment of the State leadership with the grass root level workers, resulting in wrong ticket allotments, among others.
“The stakes are high in these grass root level polls as this will set the tone for the ensuing lok Sabha polls. The entire poll process, campaigning, will energise the workers from top to the bottom level, and that will eventually help the parties for the parliamentary polls. Even the results are going to affect the poll prospects of all the parties,” a senior BJP leader, requesting anonymity, said while talking to The Pioneer.
Bajwa had, at outset, made it clear that it would take everyone along, and would not encourage any coterie, that has won him many supporters within the party, even that from Capt Amarinder’s group. He is aggressive in his approach, and is attacking the ruling combine on every single issue. He has been targeting the SAD-BJP Government with its own weapon — its 2012 election manifesto — highlighting the unfulfilled promises of State Government.
To the contrary, with another success in the political battle, the SAD-BJP combine would get a major boost ahead the lok Sabha elections. With an anti-Congress wave sweeping the nation in most of the state, the ruling combine would be benefited if the Congress faced another vote down in its unending journey of defeats after defeats.