By
Harihar Swarup
There
was great jubilation at Congress victory in the just concluded Assembly
elections but let us face the reality. The Congress win in two major Hindi
speaking states—Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh—is not as convincing as that of
Chhattisgarh. Odds were indeed against the BJP but the saffron party gave a
tough fight to the Congress and the party could not get a majority in Rajasthan
and M.P. Congress has to depend on the support of BSP, Samajwadi Party and the
Independents to form the government. BSP Chief Mayawati extended support of its
two MLAs on humiliating terms. Maintaining that her differences with the
Congress notwithstanding, BSP has to extend support to Rahul Gandhi’s party to
keep the “bigger enemy”, BJP, out.
From
tone and tenor of Mayawati’s speech, it is clear the Congress should not take
BSP’s support for granted. The Congress leaderships in M.P. and Rajasthan have
to carve out a majority by winning over the Independents, many of whom are
rebel Congressmen; they contested because they were denied ticket by the
leadership. They will return back to the party-fold most willingly.
As
the Congress in M.P. and Rajasthan have wafer-thin majority, the Chief
Ministers of the two states should be experienced and tactful in the two state
to deal with any situation. Rahul Gandhi has wisely chosen Kamal Nath to lead
the party in Madhya Pradesh. Kamal Nath is shrewd enough politically and has
administrative experience of long years as a minister at the Centre.
The
other aspirant Jyotiraditya Scindia, aged 47, is bright and has made a mark in
Parliament but possesses no political and administrative experience. The
state-level politics is most intricate. Scindia’s influence is limited to
Gwalior-Chambal belt. His royal lineage may not fit well with the Congress’s
attempt to identify itself with the common man.
Rahul
Gandhi showed same wisdom in choosing leader in Rajasthan. After hours of
talks, spread over two days, the logjam broke and a formula was worked out,
according to which, Gehlot became the CM and the young Sachin Pilot agreed to
be the deputy CM. These are difficult times; Congress needs experienced and
politically astute leaders to lead the party in the desert state. Gehlot,
having been already CM for two terms, is more suited to be CM and the Central
leadership has wisely decided in his favour. Sachin is 41 and can wait. Rahul
should ensure that the old and young leaders function as a team and should not
become rivals.
There
not much problem in picking up a leader in Chhattisgarh as the party has
massive majority. The local leaders will accept the High Command’s decision.
The
ugly demonstration by supporters of Scindia and Sachin show that the Congress
is divided even before the two leaders began their innings. So soon after
electoral victory, when the bigger battle is ahead, the ugly demonstrations is
an act of cross indiscipline and has to be put down with heavy hands. Both
Scindia and Sachin should ask their followers to desist from such acts.
Barely
after two weeks will begin the year 2019, the election year. It is said that
the Congress victory in three states in Hindi heartland will have bearing on
general elections due in April and May. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh have also been stronghold of BJP too. The saffron party has been dented
but not wiped out. The Congress governments have to show results and fulfill
the promises Congress President Rahul Gandhi has made to the people.
With
national elections scheduled barely four months from now, any perceived
inability to meet campaign promises is fraught with immediate risk. The party’s
manifesto for Chhattisgarh has pledged to waive the loans of farmers “within
ten days of government formation”. That by itself, is amenable to flexible
interpretation. The states that have implemented debt relief in recent years
have either limited the same credit extended by Cooperative Banks (Punjab) or
restricted it to certain outstanding amount (Rs1-5 lakh in Uttar Pradesh,
Karnataka and Maharashtra). Besides, they have imposed eligibility conditions
that exclude, for instance, farmers who have filed income tax returns or have
family members with government jobs. But such dithering may not be easy when
April-may 2019 isn’t far away.
But
more difficult promise to meet is paying paddy farmers a minimum support price
of Rs. 2,500 per quintal, which is more than Rs 1,750 rate fixed by the Centre.
That, given an annual paddy procurement of nearly 50 lakh tones from
Chhattisgarh, would cost the state exchequer a whooping Rs. 3,750 crores. And
since the kharif marketing season is already underway, this money will have to
be paid well in time to reap the electoral award. In MP too the Congress faces
a similar pressure of implementing a Rs. 500 quintal bonus on soyabean and
maize that was announced by outgoing
Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government. The estimated cost of this on
expected sales of 28 lakh tonnes of soyabean and 16 lakh tonnes of maize in
mandis across the state—is Rs2,200
crore, to be paid after the marketing season ending next month. Political
exigency may leave the new dispensation with little choice but to foot the
bill.
The
unfortunate by product of such political competition is policies that will
eventually harm the farmer. How is his cause going to be served through
unrealistic MSPs that drive away the private trade, or loan waver that will
discourage banks from extending further credit? This is where K Chandrasekhar
Rao government in Telangana holds promise. Under its Rythu Bandhu Scheme,
farmers are given a flat Rs.4000 per-acre-per season support. The best thing
about the scheme is that it is not market distorting. Farmers will be paid the
subsidy directly, irrespective of which crop they grow or whatever be the
market prices. Yes, it is a matter of detail. For now, the good news is that
Rythu Bandhu has also paid political dividends. (IPA Service)
The post Despite Sweet Victory, Congress Has Big Work Ahead appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
