In Uttar Pradesh, hopes of the Congress are rising with the increasing problems of Mayawati. Many BSP leaders are leaving the party and, sources say, if this makes Mayawati weak, she will easily become ready to tie up with the Congress.
For the past many years, Congress leaders have been trying to forge an alliance with the BSP. Some say the Congress has given two proposals to the BSP: One is to go into a pre-poll alliance in UP and Punjab, and the other is for seat adjustments, like in West Bengal.
However, BSP leaders are not ready for either. They are apprehensive that if they go with the Congress, they might face a situation like the left did in West Bengal. That is why BSP leaders are opposing any alliance with the Congress. At the same time, there is chaos within the party; many OBC, Dalit and Brahmin leaders have left the BSP, and this is worrying Mayawati.
The BJP’s aggressive politics for Dalit votes is also said to have rattled Maya. That is why the Congress is of the view that at last Mayawati might be ready for seat adjustment. But if she doesn’t extend her hand for an alliance, the Congress will have the sole option to go with the JDU, and Apna Dal’s Krishna Patel faction.
WHO’S IN RAHUl’S TEAMIJ
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is finally forming his own team. Sources say that for the past few weeks, he has been meeting party leaders in a bid to judge their capabilities and organisational skills. It is said that Rahul will give more than 50 per cent representation to backwards, Dalits, tribals, and minorities. Women, too, will get more representation.
There were many senior women leaders in Sonia’s team, such as Ambika Soni, Mohsina Kidwai, Renuka Chaudhary, and Sheila Dikshit. While none of them might find a place in Rahul’s team, filmstars Khushboo and Nagma are apparently on his list.
Apart from them, Meenakshi Natarajan; MP from Bihar, Ranjeet Ranjan; MP from Assam, Sushmita Deb; party spokesperson from Mumbai, Priyanka Chaturvedi; Delhi’s Ragini Naik; and MP from West Bengal, Mausam Noor, are also on Rahul’s list.
Rahul has already met leaders from several States. On one hand, he is working for the solution to end infighting in the State units of the party, and on the other, he is discussing names from the States that will be included in the central organisation. As per the party tradition, these names are decided from Delhi, but Rahul is trying to change that.
CHANGES IN CONGRESS
There are speculations that changes would be made in the Congress Parliamentary leadership as well as its organisation. These changes could be implemented as early as in the Monsoon Session, which starts from July 18.
It is being said that there are very few members of the party in the lok Sabha and the leadership is also not very aggressive. The general perception is that when either Sonia or Rahul are present in the House, the MPs are aggressive, but in their absence, leaders either sit mum or simply leave.
The party’s leader in the lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, is usually busy with Karnataka politics. Capt Amarinder Singh, his deputy, concentrates on Punjab politics. In the last session, he was hardly seen once or twice. So, maximum responsibilities are with the party’s chief whip, Jyotiraditya Scindia. He alone takes care of the House. The young MPs of the party, such as Gaurav Gogoi, Ranjeet Ranjan and Sushmita Deb, actively support him.
So, Scindia could be given a promotion and may be made the deputy leader in the lok Sabha. But some say he can be made party President in MP. If that happens, Kantilal Bhuria, who has come to the lok Sabha after wining MP byelections, might be made the deputy leader. MP from Haryana, Deepender Singh Hooda, could be made the chief whip in the lok Sabha.
NEW MINISTRIES IN STATES
There was a time when there were around 100 ministers in UP. Even lalu Prasad Yadav had extended his council of ministers to 90. At that time, many new and bizarre ministries were created to accommodate more and more people. later, a cap was put on the number of ministers; in the case of unicameral legislature, the number of ministers should be 15 per cent of the total number, and in case of bi-cameral legislature, the number should be 10 per cent of the total strength of both Houses. That’s when the number of ministers became limited everywhere. So, no bizarre ministries were created.
But now at least in two States, new ministries are being formed — in MP and Telangana. CM of MP, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has announced a Happiness Ministry, which will work to lessen the tension of people and make them happy by including them in social and cultural activities.
On the other hand, CM of Telangana, K Chandrashekar Rao, has created the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, giving his son KT Rama Rao its charge. Normally, external affairs, telecommunication, defence, and Railway are ministries of the Central Government. There is no use of these ministries in States. But a large number of people from Telangana, especially from Hyderabad, stay abroad and that’s why the CM has taken this initiative.
As per data, almost 50,000 professionals from Hyderabad are green card holders in the US. One of the objectives of this ministry is to ease the process of foreign investment for Telangana.
HOPE FOR GST BIll
This time managers of the BJP and Central Government are hopeful that the Congress will support the GST Bill. The Congress has given a signal that it will not be adamant on its impractical proposal that insists on including the GST rate in the Constitution amendment. Congress leaders are aware that if they stick to this demand, then every time there is an increase or decrease in the GST rate, they will have to go for an amendment in Constitution with 2/3rd majority.
However, the party might not compromise on the issue of increase in rights of States. The BJP sources say that if the Congress agrees to take one step back, the Central Government will also try to compromise, so that the GST Bill can be passed in the Monsoon Session. If the Government gets the Bill passed without putting GST rate into the Constitution Amendment Bill, it will be a great achievement.
But getting the Bill passed largely depends on the Congress and left parties, the CPM and CPI. The Government is not giving much importance to the left, but is majorly focussing on Congress leaders. If the Congress agrees, then its leaders will automatically persuade the left. That’s because right now there is a perfect relationship between the Congress and CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.
KEJRIWAl’S PATEl POlITICS
Hardik Patel has got relief from the Gujarat High Court in the Visnagar rioting case, but has to leave the State for the next six months. Now everybody is waiting for his next political move. Arvind Kejriwal, who is an expert in cashing in on every opportunity, is now eyeing Hardik for political gains.
Recently, during his Gujarat visit, Kejriwal was all praise for him. But Hardik is of no use to him right now. Next year, Assembly Elections are scheduled in Gujarat and then Hardik will be of use for the AAP chief. Sources in the party say Kejriwal wants a CM candidate from Hardik, so AAP can fight on his/her name.
But before that, UP elections will be held and the fight has started over 7-8 per cent Kurmi votes. People are saying that UP can be the first destination for Hardik outside Gujarat. Sources say that in UP, he could extend support to the JDU. Some JDU leaders are in close contact with Hardik and might join hands soon. Nitish Kumar had also once supported Hardik. One of the close Patel leaders of Nitish says that in 2019, the CM of Bihar will use Hardik’s clout, and it will start right from UP elections.
WHEN WIll JVM, JDU MERGEIJ
JVM, the party of Jharkhand’s former CM Babulal Marandi, has still not merged with the JDU. For the past few months, leaders of both parties have been singing the tune of a merger. But for one or the other reason, it is being deferred. It was being said before the Rajya Sabha elections that Marandi was demanding a seat in the Upper House. Probably, this could have been the reason for deferring the merger.
It has been almost a month since then, but the tie-up is yet to happen. Though this is also true that there is a cordial relationship between Marandi and Nitish, and the former might participate in Bihar CM’s rally whenever it is organised in Jharkhand.
Many leaders of the JDU are apprehensive that just like the RJD, Samajwadi Party, RlD and INlD, the merger with JVM might not take place at all. Even Kamal Morarka’s Samajwadi Janata Party has not been merged with the JDU. In the past one and a half year, Nitish has worked on more than half a dozen probable alliances, but not even a single one has reached finality. Nevertheless, leaders of the JDU and JVM are hopeful. There are still three years to go for elections in Jharkhand and there is no hurry after all.