It is a known fact that JDU leaders wanted Congress President Sonia Gandhi to mediate the merger of Janata family as well as talk to lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh. But the Congress didn’t take any initiative until now. It was only when the process of the merger stopped, and the RJD and JDU were on the verge of a break-up that the Congress became active. Probably the Congress is worried that if the merger doesn’t materialise, then the BJP would get a walkover in Bihar and it would be difficult to stop the party in other parts of the country. So, the Congress wants to stop the triangular fight in the State.
That is the reason why Congress has started meddling in the alliance of RJD and JDU. After meeting Sonia, BPCC President Ashok Chaudhary said the Congress will tie up with JDU, and Nitish Kumar will be the CM candidate. Though, soon after Chaudhary’s statement, Congress spokesperson said the party would not ignore RJD supremo lalu. It means the Congress will mediate between lalu and Nitish, and will coax them to go together. The Congress may also persuade NCP and both parties of the left to come together with an aim to stop the BJP. Though the strongest left party in Bihar is CPI(Ml), which will not be a part of this alliance.
RAHUl VS SONIA ON BIHAR
Which party will the Congress form an alliance with in BiharIJ This is a million dollar question which can cause tension between Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Resentment between RJD and JDU is not going down. RJD is adamant on its three basic demands. It says that its vote bank has increased, so it needs more seats; RJD leaders are demanding minimum 142 seats. The second demand is to take Jitan Ram Manjhi with the Janata family, and third demand is to declare the leader after the elections. Nitish has not agreed to any of these demands.
In this scenario, RJD and JDU may part ways. Now the question is: What will be the strategy of the CongressIJ The party is seemingly soft towards Nitish. Probably Rahul has indicated this during talks with BPCC President Ashok Chaudhary. And now the news is that Congress leaders of the State are gearing up to fight elections in alliance with Nitish. But this decision is not final.
The Congress is trying to get RJD and JDU on one platform. It is even ready to fight on very few seats if the alliance is finalised. But if the alliance doesn’t work out, then probably Sonia and other senior leaders of the Congress might try for tie up with lalu. If that happens, there will be tension between Sonia and Rahul. Rahul is not happy about going with lalu; on the other hand, Sonia doesn’t want to leave lalu. So, the decision on Bihar will not be an easy one for the Congress.
MAIN FACE AGAINST NDA
Who will be the main face against NDA — lalu or NitishIJ To polarise Muslim voters and to unite voters who are not happy with the BJP, it is necessary to reveal the face against the BJP and Narendra Modi. Nitish comes first to mind as he had broken his alliance with the BJP when Modi was given the responsibility to lead the campaign. But after witnessing defeat in the lok Sabha Elections, and the unsuccessful experiment with Manjhi, Nitish’s tone has changed. He has given an indication to work in coordination with the Modi Government at the Centre. But as the elections are nearing, he will have to follow a hard line.
On the other hand, lalu is known to be anti-BJP from the very beginning, but has helped the party time and again. Recently, his party helped the BJP in Parliament. Other stalwarts like Naveen Patnaik, HD Deve Gowda, Karunanidhi and Mamata Banerjee have been associated with the BJP at one point or another.
This is the first time when lalu is facing the allegation of helping the BJP. It is also being said that something has happened behind the scenes and after that lalu has not let the merger process be completed. It is also being said that there are problems in the alliance due to lalu’s pressure on Nitish. To end these speculations, lalu has intensified his attack on Modi. He is of the view that if he doesn’t make himself pivotal in the anti-Modi plank, the Muslim vote bank would become unhappy. Both lalu and Nitish have started positioning themselves as the tallest secular leader, in case the alliance doesn’t happen.
AN EVENTFUl FIRST YEAR
Modi Government has completed one year, and throughout this period it has been in events mode. Functions have been organised to keep ministers, MPs, officials, school and colleges, and the media busy. For the last two weeks, the Government has been celebrating its first anniversary with various events. The PM’s Bangladesh visit is in itself a big event. Modi has managed to turn every foreign visit into a grand event.
Meanwhile, the Central Government has started the events of digital India. In a week-long programme, there will be focus on exhibition of digital techniques and use of social media. When the PM returns from Bangladesh, preparations will start for International Yoga Day on June 21. For this, the PM has decided to write a Facebook post daily. On June 21, he will do yoga in Rajpath and thousands of people will participate along with him. Despite being a Sunday, yoga sessions will be organised in schools also. Apart from this, events will be organised every month on some or the other issue.
BJP’S SOCIAl MEDIA FOCUS
Central India is celebrating Digital India Week, and the motive is to take social media to the mainstream. PM Modi is well aware of its strength; he used it well in the lok Sabha Elections. But after that, his popularity on social media has been steadily declining, and to recuperate, new attempts are being made. Probably, contacts of PM and his office will be enhanced. Attempts will be made to reach out to maximum number of people who are connected with PM’s Twitter and FB accounts. When the Government completed its first year, private messages were sent to PM’s followers on Twitter. And this endeavour has yielded positive results.
Such contact and dialogue will be increased in the future. Keeping Bihar elections in mind, the BJP and Centre have decided to increase activity on social media. Most of the leaders in Bihar are not active on social media. They have been instructed to increase contacts with the youths of the State.
Recently, Rahul Gandhi and many other leaders of his party have become active on social media. So, it is also a matter of competition now. That is why the BJP and Centre are paying more attention to social media.
MODI, MUlAYAM AND MAMATA
The PM has a lot of expectations from his two opponents who are regional stalwarts as well. Modi has initiated a dialogue with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh. It is being said that the Government has a lot of expectations in parliamentary politics from the two leaders. And that is the reason why the PM has instructed his partymen to not attack them. Modi gave a one-hour speech in Mathura on May 25, but didn’t mention the UP Government even once. Similarly, when he was in Kolkata, he refrained from attacking the Mamata Government.
Some say the BJP is benefitting from this strategy. Mamata is ready to support every Bill, expect the land Bill. She is also ready to go to Bangladesh with the PM and will participate in the discussion on the distribution of Teesta water. Though, this is also clear that there will not be any treaty on this with Bangladesh.
Mulayam is also ready to help the Government on almost all issues expect the land Bill. Reliable sources say recently BJP leaders had a secret meeting with Mulayam, and only after that the merger of Janata family was stalled. There is speculation that Mulayam and Mamata are set to follow a soft Hindutva line.