The 1989 general elections were held in the backdrop of the Bofors scam and even then the Congress party emerged as the largest party. Those were the worst days for Congress but it managed to get around 200 seats. It could have formed the Government by hook or by crook but Rajiv Gandhi declined. He said that the number of his MPs had reduced to almost half and it meant that the mandate was against him and he decided to sit in the Opposition. Though, it is also true that later on when tension emerged within the Janata Dal Government, he was instrumental in the formation of the Chandra Shekhar Government in the same manner as Indira Gandhi was in Charan Singh’s Government in 1979.
However, known sources of the Congress say that Rahul Gandhi would also love to repeat the history of his father. If Congress, as it is claimed in various surveys, gets around 100 seats, only then Rahul would prefer to sit in the Opposition rather than form a coalition Government. He has made it clear that he will not support any third front. There are many Congress leaders who believe that the BJP can be stopped if the Congress gets at least the number it did in 2004, 145.
GOVERNORS FEARING REMOVAl
Currently there are two types of governors sitting in various Raj Bhawans in the country. The bureaucrat-turned-governors know it well that even if the Government changes at the Centre, it will bear no effect on their position. But, political-leaders-turned-governors are seeing difficult times. This includes many Congress leaders who have been continuing as governors. Reliable sources in the Congress say that these governors have started indicating their wish to return to active politics.
Nikhil Kumar, who was Governor in Kerala, is fighting election from Bihar’s Aurangabad. Reportedly, Karnataka’s Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj and Rajasthan’s Margaret Alva are also ready to leave the Raj Bhawan. Sheila Dikshit joined Kerala’s Raj Bhawan recently but she will not face any problem in returning to politics. There are some governors who have been active in politics in States like Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and Maharashtra.
QUESTIONING THE EC
This time the Election Commission is badly trapped. Many leaders have raised serious questions on the EC’s working style and some of the leaders are so senior and clear-headed that their questions can’t be just ignored. Finance minister P Chidambaram has raised questions on the long schedule and model code of conduct. He has said that to suspend administrative decisions for so long is not good for governance. For example, in Delhi and Haryana almost a month has passed since polling is over but still the model code of conduct is continuing here and will continue for the next two weeks. likewise, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has raised questions regarding loot and booth capturing in some parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and alleged that the EC has not been able to take action in these areas. Not only this, it is also being questioned for not taking action against leaders making provocative speeches.
CHAVAN TO FIGHT ASSEMBlY ElECTIONS
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, may fight Assembly elections from his home turf after 4-5 months, to motivate other candidates of the Congress and ensure better performance of the party. His close associates have chosen two seats for him — Maan and Karad south — with higher probability of the latter. Sources close to him say this would be a message to those who say Chavan does not have a mass base.
AMETHI AND VARANASI
The whole world is keeping its eyes on two seats of Uttar Pradesh — Varanasi and Amethi. It is being considered that Modi in Varanasi and Rahul in Amethi are strong candidates. The big question is: Who will give fight to both the leadersIJ
In Varanasi, the Congress is trying its best to turn the fight between Modi and its candidate Ajay Rai. Veteran leaders of the Congress prepared a strategy in Delhi and motivated the Ansari brothers to tender their support to Ajai Rai. It is said that Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik has been deputed at Varanasi and leaders like Kamal Nath and Anand Sharma are helping him. likewise, the BJP is trying its best to turn the fight in Amethi between Rahul and Smriti Irani. That is the reason why Narendra Modi himself campaigned for Smriti Irani in Amethi. The star campaigner of the Congress made more attacks on Irani than on Kumar Vishwas. The AAP’s Kumar Vishwas and party chief Arvind Kejriwal too are contesting these seats. The party wants to make it a Rahul vs Vishwas contest in Amethi and Modi vs Kejriwal in Varanasi. AAP workers from all over the country have reached both places. The party’s strategy is if the party remains in the fight it will emerge as an option to both the BJP and the Congress.
PM READY TO lEAVE PMO
It is being speculated that the PMO is gearing up for the new Prime Minister and working on the agenda of a new Government. Reportedly, Manmohan Singh has directed his officials to finish all the remaining work before May 15. It is also being said that he has indicated to his officials that not only the Prime Minister but the Government too will change.
Interestingly, Singh has been saying time and again that the next Government will be of UPA III and its command will be in the hands of a new leader. Even officials are agreed on this speculation. Sources say Pulok Chatterjee, Principal Secretary to Manmohan Singh, is gearing up to leave office. It is said that he doesn’t even want to complete the formality of receiving the new PM at the PMO. It is customary for the principal secretary of an outgoing PM to receive the incoming PM. Although it is true that Vajpayee’s PS Brajesh Mishra had not followed this tradition either.
SENTIMENTAl GANDHI BROTHERS
This time the two youths of the Gandhi-Nehru family are contesting elections riding on the boat of sentiments. Rahul is trying his luck for the third time from his traditional seat Amethi; on the other hand his cousin, Varun Gandhi, who is fighting for the second time, is contesting from his father’s seat, Sultanpur, leaving his own. Both are from different parties but are asking for votes in their favour in almost the same style; both are trying to connect with voters in their respective constituencies. Both face strong challenges and are hence invoking the legacies of their late fathers.
In Sultanpur, Varun remembered his father to his voters and said he has an old relationship with the constituency. later on, Varun’s mother Maneka Gandhi also remembered her late husband Sanjay Gandhi at Sultanpur and tried to turn the people emotional. likewise, Rahul said in Amethi that he belongs to Amethi till the time he is alive. He remembered his father and grandmother in front of the people there. Priyanka and Sonia Gandhi did the same in Amethi as well. In the place of his work for 10 years as an MP, Rahul is seeking votes on an emotional ground. And Varun too is seeking votes in the name of his family, instead of the Modi wave.