Just as before Diwali, e-commerce companies dole out several sale offers, many new parties are being formed in the country. Next year Assembly Elections are to be held in many States; apart from that, municipal elections will be held in Delhi and Mumbai. That is the reason why almost a dozen new parties have been registered recently. All these parties will try their luck in the coming elections. MCD elections are scheduled for next year, and at the same time, Assembly Elections will be held in Punjab. Before that, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan — who had been thrown out of AAP — have floated a new party called Swaraj India. This party will probably fight elections in Delhi as well as in Punjab, and is expected to pose a challenge for AAP.
In the same manner, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who was the convener of AAP in Punjab, has launched his own party and will definitely create problems for AAP. Some time ago, Navjot Singh Sidhu had also formed a front, Awaaz-e-Punjab, and his prime motive is to eat into the BJP and Akali Dal votes.
In Goa, Assembly Elections will be held in the beginning of the next year. Subhash Velingkar, who was the RSS chief in the State, launched a new party called Goa Suraksha Manch. In the same manner, veteran tribal leaders Arvind Netam and Sohan Potai have announced the launch of a new party in Chhattisgarh. Some time ago, Ajit Jogi had also formed his own party.
SHAHABUDDIN INSIDE STORY
The former MP of the RJD has been sent back to jail within 20 days of his bail and the blame game has started. Supporters of Shahabuddin are putting the onus on the media and Nitish Kumar. On Monday, his supporters protested in Siwan against the Supreme Court’s decision to send him back to jail. During the protest, many people were seen carrying placards with anti-Nitish slogans. Their argument was simple: Had the State Government not gone to the apex court, Shahabuddin would not have been sent back to jail.
His supporters also misbehaved with the media and alleged that it created anti-Shahabuddin sentiments in the country. On the other hand, the BJP leaders are apparently holding lawyer Prashant Bhushan responsible instead of the State Government. They say that if Bhushan had not challenged the bail of Shahabuddin, the State Government would not have gone to court, because in 40 cases of bail, it had not moved the court.
Some BJP workers, who are active on social media, are giving the credit to Sushil Modi. What is interesting is that Bhushan has not given any statement on the issue.
All FOR THE SAKE OF VOTES
Though the Congress is fighting in Uttar Pradesh on a Brahmin face, there is no doubt that Dalits and Muslims are also important for the party. However, the Congress doesn’t have many such leaders who can be roped in for campaigning.
So, the party has decided to import some prominent Dalit and Muslim faces to UP. Till date, in-charge general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad is being given importance in Rahul Gandhi’s yatra. The Congress has two veteran Muslim leaders, Mohsina Kidwai and Salman Khurshid, but they are not being used as apparently the party doesn’t have much hope from them. This time, the party did not even send Kidwai to the Rajya Sabha. Among the State leaders, only Imran Masood is getting some importance.
Similarly, Pl Punia is the biggest face of the State, but the Congress is not very hopeful about him too. His tenure as chairman of SC commission will end this week. After that, probably he will be confined to Barabanki. Dalit politics of the Congress was being handled by former IAS K Raju, but he is not very happy as the party has not sent him to the Rajya Sabha, which is why Dalit politics of the Congress has been derailed. Some say the party will rope in Sushilkumar Shinde and Meira Kumar for campaigning.
JAGAN’S NEW STRATEGY
The political scenario in Andhra Pradesh is changing rapidly. Sources in the Congress say that attempts are being made to bring Jaganmohan Reddy, son of former CM of the State, YSR, back into the party fold. It is being said that Jagan himself is showing interest in joining the Congress. In fact, Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu has made a big dent into Jagan’s party and many MlAs of YSR Congress have joined Naidu’s party, TDP, and others are keen to join it.
That is the reason why Jagan wants a strong front against Naidu. He knows that if his party and the Congress fight separately in the next elections, then the TDP will reap benefits. So, at first he gave a signal for an alliance, but now he is willing to merge his party with the Congress.
Sources say poll strategist Prashant Kishor can play a big role in this. Jagan’s party is in close contact with Kishor, and Jagan could soon have a pact with him for 2019 elections. This is to be noted that Assembly Elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held at the time of lok Sabha Elections. So, Kishor will try his best to motivate Jagan to join the Congress-led alliance before lok Sabha Elections.
NEO-HINDUISM AT PlAY
It’s not clear whether this is spontaneous or there is some politics behind it, but this is the fact that after August, nationalism and Hinduism seem to be merging. The first glimpse of this was visible during the Kanwar Yatra in August. Almost in every part of the country, Kanwarias put the Tricolour along with a saffron flag over their kanwars. The National flags were also seen on their vehicles. This was seen in Haryana, Delhi and Western UP with all fanfare and grandeur.
After the Kanwar Yatra, during Ganesh Chaturthi, the Tricolour was seen everywhere. Though this is considered the festival of Maharashtra, now it is celebrated in other parts of the country as well. In Delhi,pandals were installed for almost 10 days during Ganesh Chaturthi. National flags were seen in almost allpandals and when youths went for idol immersion, they also held the Tricolour high. Now, the same thing is being repeated during Durga Puja. Right from Delhi to Bihar and West Bengal to Jharkhand, there are pandals on patriotic themes. At many places, Mahishasuras have been replaced by Pakistan!
Some time ago, when Anna Hazare’s movement was going on against corruption, the National Flag had become an important part of it, and now when tension is prevailing on the India-Pakistan border, the Tricolour is again under focus. This phenomenon is being considered as important, considering the fact that next year elections are scheduled in several States.
THE ‘BORDER’ POlITICS
Politics in the country is simmering after the surgical strike in PoK. There is speculation that the Akali Dal in Punjab and the BJP in Uttarakhand will benefit from this as many people from these States are in the armed forces. In Uttarakhand, many leaders are also from an Army background. Tension with Pakistan always affects the politics of these two States, as it will this time too.
The other reason is that whatever is happening in Jammu and Kashmir border also affects Punjab border. During the beating retreat ceremony at Wagah Border, stones are being thrown at the Indian side. likewise, suspects were seen at Gurdaspur border and the security forces opened fire many times. Punjab border is tense whenever there is tension against Pakistan. This tension along the border might polarise Hindu votes in favour of the ruling alliance in Punjab. The Akali Dal and the BJP are worried about this vote bank, as they think it might drift towards AAP.