The entire Opposition is toiling hard to reach consensus on a joint candidate for India’s President. However, sources say the name will not be made public yet. That is why after meeting Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee said that there was no discussion over the name of any specific candidate.
Another meeting of the Opposition leaders was scheduled for this week. Around a dozen Opposition leaders from the TMC, RJD, JDU, NC, NCP, left, DMK, SP, and BSP were to meet Sonia to discuss the strategy for presidential elections. They were to also discuss the name of probable candidates, but sources say that the Congress and other parties are not in favour of revealing the name yet.
A source added that the Opposition is discussing several names. It will be only after the BJP declares its candidate that the Opposition would follow suit. As far as the BJP is concerned, no one knows who its presidential candidate is, which is why the Opposition wants to keep its cards close to its chest. The Opposition has strategically taken the name of Gopal Gandhi and is waiting for the BJP to fall for this. However, there are speculations that Ratan Tata and Amitabh Bachchan are being considered by the BJP.
If the BJP fields an apolitical candidate, then the Congress will choose another leader instead of Gopal Gandhi. If the BJP chooses an RSS worker, the Opposition will go for a leader with a strong secular image. If the BJP picks a Dalit, tribal, or woman candidate, then the Opposition might also field a similar candidate. That is why it is being said that the suspense will continue till the first week of June.
RAHUl’S QUEST FOR BAlANCE
Rahul Gandhi’s team is being built. Its first glimpse was seen on May 16 when six youth leaders addressed the media on the occasion of completion of three years of Narendra Modi’s Government. Randeep Surjewala, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, RPN Singh, Sushmita Dev, and Ramya Spandan were present. This led to questions about what will happen to leaders who had been left behind. In fact, there are two or three leaders in Rahul’s team who have similar ambitions. That is why Rahul is facing difficulty in striking a balance.
For example, RPN Singh was present at the May 16 press conference, but Jitin Prasada was absent. After UP elections, Prasada has almost disappeared. Some time ago, it was being said that he could be made the president of UPCC. If the Congress puts forward a Brahmin face, Prasada will be the best choice. But leaders like Pramod Tiwari and Rajesh Mishra are also contenders. A backward face like RPN Singh can also be put forward. So, Rahul has to take a decision on RPN or Prasada — who will be absorbed in his team and who will be given the command of the State.
In the same manner, the presence of Sushmita Dev and absence of Gaurav Gogoi raised several questions. Both are MPs from Assam and their fathers are senior leaders of the Congress. Former CM Tarun Gogoi has been making all efforts to ensure that the responsibility of the State be given to his son. At the age of 80, he is working hard. So, people are saying that Rahul will keep one of them in his team and give the responsibility of the State to the other.
Surjewala vs Deependra Singh Hooda has also become a big issue. If Rahul wants to keep Surjewala in his team, then he has to offer Hooda another big role. So, it is being said that senior Hooda will be given the command of the State and junior Hooda will make an entry into Rahul’s team. A similar balance has to be attained in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Maharashtra, and Rahul is trying to find a way.
THE NEO-DAlIT MOVEMENT
It is tough to accept that the neo-movement for Dalit pride in Gujarat and UP is spontaneous, because no movement in India is so in these times. Even in Jammu and Kashmir, where jihad and the so-called freedom movements are going hand in hand, violent activities are taking place with the help of funds pouring in from across the border. When Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal had led the movement against corruption, questions were raised over its funding.
That is why it is doubtful that the positioning of Jignesh Mewani in Gujarat and Chandreshekhar Azad in Uttar Pradesh is spontaneous. It’s not as if these two leaders have awakened the Dalits and made them aware of their rights. Seeing the number of people and the pace of the movement at Jantar Mantar last Sunday, it is beyond any doubt that a lot of resources and funds went into it. Azad claimed that the Delhi Police had stopped many people at the border, and if that was true, then one can guess that a huge crowd was expected to assemble at Jantar Mantar.
Gathering so many people, taking them to Delhi, arranging banners and other paraphernalia, preparation of slogans for them — all this cannot be done without time and money. That is why some BJP leaders are alleging that their opponents are backing these movements.
However, this is too simple a logic. There is no doubt that it has a political aspect but seeing the conversion of Dalits, the role of religious organisations can’t be ruled out entirely. The whole episode should be seen in a wider perspective. It must be understood that this would not remain limited to only two States. The reason might be anything, but this is for sure that Dalit leaders like Mayawati, Ram Vilas Paswan, and Ramdas Athawale will be in a problem.
MODI’S GUJARAT MISSION
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Gujarat recently and participated in many functions during his two-day visit. For the past few days, Modi has visited his home State almost every month. Interestingly, Gujarat elections are scheduled for the end of this year. This time, the BJP has set a target of 150 seats. At present, the party has 120 MlAs of the total 182 seats of the Gujarat Assembly. The Congress has 57 seats. And this time, the BJP wants to take 30 seats from the Congress.
For this, Modi and Amit Shah are working very hard; also one of the reasons behind their regular trips to the State. Sources say the PM will go to Gujarat every month till elections are announced. This is also almost certain that the BJP will be fighting on his name only. These will be the first Assembly Elections after Modi became the Prime Minister. In the past one and a half decades, this will be the first time when the BJP will go into elections without Modi. So, the party is raising the issue of Gujarat pride. Sources in the BJP say that the theme of the election campaign will be: Big win in Gujarat would strengthen Modi in Delhi.
To give a boost to this campaign, Modi will continue his trips to Gujarat. After the elections are announced, he will be actively involved in campaigning too and is expected to rigorously campaigning till the last phase of elections, just as he did in UP. Some leaders of the party are also saying that the BJP has to achieve a bigger victory because this is Modi’s home State.