Amid the fight among the BJP, SP, BSP, Akali Dal and AAP, there will be a unique fight — one between Prashant Kishor and Arvind Kejriwal. This fight will be more interesting because whoever wins will be more valuable on the chessboard of 2019 General Elections
The stage is set for the Assembly Elections scheduled for next year. Amid the fight among the BJP, SP, BSP, Akali Dal and AAP, there will be another unique fight — one between Prashant Kishor and Arvind Kejriwal. According to political pundits, this fight will be more interesting because whoever wins will be more valuable on the chessboard of 2019 General Elections.
Punjab will be the first battleground for AAP chief Kejriwal and Kishor, who is working for the Congress’s Capt Amarinder Singh. The Congress has been in the Opposition for 10 consecutive years under the Captain’s leadership; this has never happened earlier. So, the Captain has to win the upcoming elections at any cost.
On the other hand, Kejriwal is upbeat and already dreaming of victory. Almost all surveys and predictions claim that AAP will be a big gainer in the State.
Meanwhile, Kishor is working for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh as well, but it is common knowledge that it is a lost game there. However, the party has high hopes from Punjab.
After these elections, there will be the real fight between Kejriwal and Kishor in Gujarat. The State has a special significance for the political strategist. It was here that he worked for Narendra Modi for the first time in 2012. It is said that he has set his heart on ensuring the BJP’s defeat in the State, even though AAP will be the Congress’s prime target. The results of Gujarat will decide the future course of politics.
MISSING DAlIT lEADERS
Almost all Dalit leaders of the Congress have vanished, even though Dalit politics is on the peak in the country. The party is making do with only Pl Punia. When issues of atrocities on Dalits crept in, it was Punia who addressed the media and raised questions. The Congress is giving the argument that since elections are due in UP, the party is keeping the Dalit face of the State at the forefront.
However, the reality is different: Dalit politics of the party has gone off the track. Chief of the Dalit cell and close aide of Rahul Gandhi, K Raju, is not happy. Since he has not got a Rajya Sabha seat, he has distanced himself from day-to-day party activities. Rahul had given him the full responsibility for Dalit issues, so other leaders could not understand how to move forward.
During the UPA tenure, there were two prominent Dalit faces of the Congress — Meira Kumar and Sushilkumar Shinde. This year, Shinde was supposed to be sent to the Rajya Sabha, but finally P Chidambaram was given a ticket from Maharashtra. Meira’s name wasn’t even discussed. That is why these two leaders have confined themselves to a limited role. Hence, the party has put Punia forward. But UP leaders are of the view that he will not be very effective when pitted against Mayawati.
REMEMBERING RAO
The greatest hurdle in the way of implementing GST, one tax system for the entire country, has been removed. The necessary Constitution Amendment Bill has been passed in both Houses of Parliament. Interestingly, during the process of getting the Bill passed, the father of economic reforms in India, PV Narasimha Rao, was fondly remembered. Though, the Congress has almost forgotten Rao, but this time party leaders remembered him.
last Monday, when Arun Jaitley introduced the GST Bill in lok Sabha, senior leader of the Congress, Veerappa Moily, started discussions on it. In his speech, Moily remembered Rao and said it was he who gave a free hand to Manmohan Singh to initiate economic reforms in the country. Not only this, when Moily addressed a press conference, he gave credit to Rao for introducing several economic reforms in India. Whether he did this on the party high command’s directions or of his own will is unclear.
Before that, even BJP leaders referred to Rao several times while discussing the GST Bill. When the Finance Minister was trying to convince the Congress to support the Bill, he said that the party was taking credit for the economic reforms, but it was in fact the brainchild of Rao and his Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh.
Jaitley was targeting the Congress for taking Rao’s name. It is to be noted that last month, it was the 25th anniversary of economic reforms which were started under Rao’s leadership.
KCR’S PROXIMITY WITH NDA
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the ruling party in Telangana, might join the NDA, and talks are in the advanced stage. Sources in the BJP say that the decision will be taken after August 15. It is said that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wants to join the NDA and also a ministerial berth for his daughter, K Kavitha, at the Centre. Kavitha, too, has given an indication for this.
Things have become clearer after Modi’s first visit to Telangana. KCR left no stone unturned to give a warm welcome to the Prime Minister. Praising Modi, Rao said it was his leadership that has kept the Central Government corruption-free.
This must be noted that these days, things are not hunky-dory between the BJP and its partner in Andhra Pradesh, the TDP. N Chandrababu Naidu is demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh and his party has also started a campaign for this. That is why the BJP needs a strong ally in this part of South India. KCR targeted Naidu in the presence of Modi, and said he doesn’t need packages worth crores, but only the PM’s love for the new State. It is being said that KCR’s gesture has won Modi’s heart and he is very happy with him.
POlITICS OF NATIONAlISM
Before UP elections, political pundits are talking about communal polarisation. But it seems that there is more politics on nationalism than on communalism. PM Modi has chalked out a plan to paint UP in the colour of nationalism from August 9 to 22. Though this plan is for the entire country, but holds special significance for UP.
The PM has launched a programme called 70 Saal ki Azadi, Zara Yaad Karo Kurbani, and several senior ministers and MPs will be celebrating this in UP. BJP President Amit Shah will go to Kakori to attend the function being organised for the Kakori Revolution. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be participating in a function at Shahjahanpur, while Nitin Gadkari will visit Varanasi and Mughalsarai. Health Minister JP Nadda will be in lucknow. Apart from this, the BJP’s and Apna Dal’s 73 MPs will be on a Tiranga Yatra from August 15 for a week, and will celebrate Tiranga Mahotsav.
UP lEADERS IN TEAM RAHUl
Everyone is wondering as to how many leaders from UP will find place in Rahul Gandhi’s teamIJ Sources in the party say that since Modi has increased the number of ministers from UP at the Centre and has not removed Kalraj Mishra, Rahul will also try to accommodate State leaders in his team.
A close aide of Rahul says that at least half a dozen leaders from UP will get big responsibilities in the team. Except the Congress President and Vice-President, no one has been given big responsibility in UP. In Sonia’s team, there is not even a single General Secretary from the State. This time, there will be at least one General Secretary in Rahul’s team, probably Jitin Prasada. Meanwhile, Pramod Tiwari is also in the race and fighting with all his might.
There is not one leader from UP in any of the important committees of the Congress. Though Mohsina Kidwai is a part of the election committee, but that is only for formality. Sources claim that this time, the number of leaders from UP will increase in some of the party panels. RPN Singh might be given responsibility of the media department. Salman Khurshid and Pradeep Jain also might get a place in Rahul’s team.