During the lok Sabha Elections, Narendra Modi had raised the slogan of ‘Congress-free India’ and his mission was to achieve ‘272+’. After the elections, BJP leaders have been following up with the mission, leaving the Opposition parties amazed. They were of the view that ‘272+’ was an impossible mission which was achieved by accident. But even afterwards, the BJP has been keeping up with the mission.
The party had set mission ‘144+’ which could not be achieved, but the party got partial success in mission ‘44+’ in Haryana. likewise, in Jammu and Kashmir, mission ‘44+’ eluded the BJP, but in Jharkhand it achieved its mission. Now, BJP leaders are setting mission ‘50+’ for Delhi, mission ‘150+’ for West Bengal, mission ‘77+’ for Kerala and mission ‘122+’ for Bihar.
On the lines of ‘Congress-free India’, Amit Shah has given a slogan of ‘Trinamool-free Bengal’ for the State. When he went to Kerala, he talked of ‘left-and Congress-free Kerala’. During his two-day Tamil Nadu tour, he spoke of ridding the State of Dravidian parties. leaders of the BJP from Uttar Pradesh want to do away with the Samajwadi Party in the State. In Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP’s slogan was ‘free the State from father-son and father-daughter’ but it could not succeed.
OVERCONFIDENCE To BlameIJ
In Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand, the BJP could achieve its mission fully. In Jharkhand, its mission was ‘55+’ because it had done well on as many seats in the lok Sabha Elections. likewise, the BJP had set mission ‘44+’ for J&K but could not achieve it. It is also true that there was no big polarisation against the BJP in the two States. So, overconfidence is said to be the real reason for the party’s below-expected performance.
Due to overconfidence, the party could not set the agenda in J&K. The BJP stuck to the agenda of development and its leaders sidelined the issue of Article 370. Apart from this, the party could not make foolproof arrangements to bring Kashmiri Pandit voters to the polling booths. In every phase, not even one-fourth Kashmiri Pandits cast their vote. If the BJP had managed these votes, the party would have got at least one seat in the Valley.
Similarly, due to overconfidence, the BJP didn’t put forth name of any leader. leaders of the party were so confident of victory that almost all senior leaders were busy finding out the name of the CM way before the results. The party faced two-pronged harm due to this. Firstly, supporters of probable candidates of CM sabotaged the party and secondly, there was controversy over tribal-non tribal and forward-backward CM candidate.
CONGRESS IS CONFUSED
leaders of the Congress are happy with the results of Assembly Elections. Though in both States, the Congress-partnered Governments have got a big jolt and the BJP is in a position to form the Government, but the Congress is satisfied with its performance. In J&K, the Congress has saved its seats. In Jharkhand, it has suffered big loss but leaders are of the view that there is no Modi wave. They think that they suffered loss because they fought after entering into alliance.
The crux of the talks held soon after the results was that if the party goes alone it will perform better. In J&K, the Congress had come out of the alliance with the National Conference to fight alone, and saved its seats, setting aside all speculations. The leaders of Congress say that if the party had gone alone in Jharkhand, it would have fared well and saved its seats.
The Congress leaders are happy as they think that Modi wave is waning. In Jharkhand, the BJP could not achieve majority on its own. In Kashmir Valley, the party could not open its account, and even in Jammu its performance was not up to expectations. This is another thing that the BJP will form the Government, but the Congress is happy that Modi’s appeal didn’t bear fruit.
RElIEF FOR REGIONAl PARTIES
Results of Jharkhand and Jammu Kashmir elections have provided some relief to the regional parties. In the lok Sabha Elections, almost all regional parties were out of the scene. After that, in Haryana elections, almost all these parties were at the verge of extinction. In Maharashtra, though the Shiv Sena saved itself, the NCP suffered big loss. After that it was said that when the BJP would rise, regional parties would face loss, and later the fight would turn into Congress vs BJP. But after the results of Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir elections, regional parties are relieved. Both regional parties have succeeded in saving their existence. The PDP has not gained much but has managed to saved its seats. It was expected that the NC would be wiped out but it also fared well.
likewise, performance of JMM in Jharkhand was good. In the last two elections, the party had got 17 and 18 seats, but this time it has increased its tally. In the last Assembly Elections, the JMM was in power for almost four years and despite this if its numbers increased, it means the party has strengthened itself on the ground. Results of the two States are like rays of hope for RJD-JDU in Bihar and SP-BSP in UP.
OUTSIDER SPOKESPERSONS IN CONG
It seems there is dearth of spokespersons in the Congress. That is why the spokespersons are being brought from outside. Ajay Kumar, who was MP of JVM, has now become the national spokesperson within six months of joining the party. These days, he is the most vocal spokesperson of the party.
It is being said that Tamil actress Kushboo can also be made the national spokesperson. Interestingly, she has recently joined the Congress after leaving DMK. Congress leaders have very high regard for her. In-charge general secretary Mukul Wasnik has brought her in as an alternative of GK Vasan and Ganadikeshan. It is said that Kushboo is fluent in many languages and has good knowledge of many fields.
Before this, the Congress appointed Sanjay Jha as its spokesperson. He used to stay at Mumbai and was running a website of cricket data. later, he started a website ‘Hamara Congress’ and started speaking on TV channels on behalf of the Congress, which is why the party appointed him as a spokesperson.
Many leaders of the Congress are waiting for the moment when the party will appoint Tehseen Poonawalla as its spokesperson. He has been very vocal on news channels and has become a self-proclaimed spokesperson of the party.
HUNT ON FOR YOUTH CONG CHIEF
These days, Rahul Gandhi is busy in selecting the president of the Youth Congress. Youth Congress and NSUI are very close to his heart. As general secretary, he has handled these organisations for many years and has conducted many experiments. But now it seems that Rahul has become averse to experiments, which had been started to give a democratic set-up to these organisations. That is why he is searching for the president of the Youth Congress according to political equations.
Reliable sources in the Congress say this time the responsibility of Youth Congress can be given to someone from the minority community. Nobody knows whether that will be a Muslim or Sikh. Probably Rahul is mulling over the name of Punjab MP Ravneet Singh Bittu. He has been elected as an MP for the second consecutive term. Even after changing his seat, he had won. But he is the grandson of former CM of Punjab Beant Singh. If he is made president of the Youth Congress, there will be allegations of dynastic politics. Apart from him, three Muslim leaders are also in the fray. Sources say Nadeem Javed from UP, Rizwan Ahmed from Karnataka and Shahnwaz Chaudhary from Jammu and Kashmir are in the race.