These days, the hot topic in the BJP is whether Amit Shah has decided to follow the policy of Ekla Chalo Re in politics? It is being said that he is trying to make the BJP a national party on its own. The strategy of Narendra Modi and Shah is to establish the BJP in the entire country, like the Congress was at one time. The way the BJP is refraining from forging alliances after the Lok Sabha Elections shows that it might either go it alone or form small alliances.
When Shah took charge as BJP president, the party decided to end the three-year-old alliance with Kuldeep Bishnoi’s HJC in Haryana. The new President of BJP didn’t abide by the deal made by his predecessor. In Punjab, the alliance with SAD is in trouble. To show its discontent with the BJP, SAD is joining hands with Om Prakash Chautala’s INLD in Haryana. In Maharashtra, dispute over seat-sharing with the Shiv Sena continues. The BJP wants the deal to be finalised on its own terms. In Jharkhand, the BJP has not finalised an alliance with any party. Of course, the BJP is sympathetic towards Babulal Marandi, but it doesn’t want an alliance. It is insisting that Marandi merge his party with the BJP. In Bihar, the BJP has an alliance but the picture might change in the next elections.
100 Days of congress in Opposition
To rate 100 days of the Modi Government was the topmost priority of the Congress. After doing this, senior leader Anand Sharma held a press conference and termed the performance of Modi Government discouraging. At this, some of the sidelined Congress leaders said the performance of 100 days of the party must also be scrutinised along with that of the Government. Congress leaders want to know how the party performed in Parliament as the Opposition.
After losing the Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress is losing its edge and is witnessing unprecedented infighting. For the past few decades, not one voice was raised against the Gandhi family. But this time, many leaders have raised questions about the leadership skills of Rahul Gandhi. The party has never faced such a wrestle of youth vs old.
Prime Minister’s promise
The ministries of home affairs and law are desperately trying to fulfill a promise of Prime Minister Modi. He had said that after becoming PM he would start a cleanliness drive, beginning from Parliament. Modi had said that corruption and criminal cases against MPs would end within a year. Though the Supreme Court refused to hasten such cases, saying it can’t view leaders and other criminals separately, the Government is refusing to back down.
First, the MHA wrote a letter to all States. The ministry sought details of leaders who are facing criminal cases. It also gave instructions to speed up investigation of these cases. In the same manner, the law ministry wrote to all CJIs of High Courts, stating that the hearing of the cases related to leaders must be expedited.
Politics over Nehru’s birthday
The Congress is trying to do a lot under the guise of celebrating Jawahar Lal Nehru’s 125th birth anniversary on November 14. When the Congress was in power, it had made big plans. But now, the leaders think the new Government will not celebrate the occasion, barring some customary functions.
So, the Congress has decided to celebrate it on the party level. The party will project Nehru as the maker of modern India and it will be publicised that the Modi Government is ignoring Nehru’s contribution to the country. Modi’s decision to replace the Planning Commission will be highlighted. The Congress will speak of the vision of Nehru and focus on schemes which were started for the poor and minorities. The party organisation will have to be activated at the district and block level. However, many leaders say this event is being held to bring Sheila Dikshit back to Delhi politics.
No star campaigner for cong
The Congress is facing a bizarre crisis before the Assembly Elections in four States. The party doesn’t have anyone to lead poll campaigns. Sonia Gandhi is not very active due to health reasons. Even in the Lok Sabha Elections, she had not campaigned rigorously. The party can only call Rahul its star campaigner. But Congress strategists say the party doesn’t want to rope him in the Assembly Elections because they are apprehensive about the results.
After the results of Lok Sabha Elections, Rahul has been on the radar of party leaders. In this scenario, if he takes whole sole responsibility of campaigning and the party doesn’t win in even a single State, his leadership will be questioned again. That is the reason why the party wants to give Rahul a limited role. But the problem is that the party doesn’t have any other leader who can be sent to States for campaigning.
Party’s veteran and old leaders are not in demand anywhere. The Congress doesn’t see any point in sending former ministers like P Chidambaram, Salman Khurshid, Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma, Ajay Maken, Manish Tewari for campaigning. Two CMs — Prithviraj Chavan and BS Hooda — will campaign in their own States. Other CMs of Congress — Siddaramaiah, Virbhadra Singh and Harish Rawat — will not be very effective in other States.