By
Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: Snubbed by SP-BSP alliance
leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, Congress is preparing to contest all the
80 Lok Sabha seats with the cooperation of smaller parties. And this means that
UP is set to witness a three-cornered contest involving three alliances.
BJP
won 73 seats in the 2014 polls, along with two by Apna Dal. Although the allies
are mounting pressure for more seats and share of power in UP, the party is
expected to manage them.
BSP
showed the willingness to forgive arch rival SP for its leaders’ role in the infamous
state guest house case of June 2, 1995 and Mayawati enter into the alliance for
survival after her party’s poor show in the 2014 Lok Sabha and subsequently in
the 2017 assembly elections.
Shocked
by the alliance and the manner in which BSP chief Mayawati criticised Congress
and justified leaving only the two seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli for the
Gandhi family, party president Rahul Gandhi told the media in Dubai that his
party would surprise everybody with better performance in UP.
Much
significance is being attached to the statements of UP in-charge Ghulam Nabi
Azad and state president Raj Babbar that party the would improve its tally. The
party had won only in Rae Bareli and Amethi in 2014 Lok Sabha seats and the
2017 assembly election also produced poor results.
With
only six MLAs and two MPs in the Lok Sabha from UP and a vote share of just 6
percent, the statements of Rahul Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad have boosted the
morale of the rank and file. The party is also exploring the possibilities of
roping in smaller parties and groups beside fielding senior leaders in the
election. Many senior Congress leaders are now claiming that that party would
improve the tally.
The
recent victory of Congress in three states assembly elections has boosted the
morale of party men. State party leaders in consultation with the central
leadership are planning several rallies by Rahul Gandhi in the state. The
leaders are busy taking direct feedback from workers and people from different
sections of society for inclusion in the party manifesto as well as in the
selection of candidates.
There
is, however, a strong view that the presence of Congress in the fray would help
the SP-BSP alliance as the party would wean away upper caste votes from BJP.
Powerful Congress candidates are also expected to get the support from
minorities, posing a challenge to BJP.
Congress
is also planning to raise national as well as UP-specific issues to project a
real contest between two national parties. Like every past election, the
possible role of Priyanka Gandhi beyond Rae Bareli and Amethi is also being
discussed in party circles.
The
minorities are also watching the development in Congress, especially the
sustained attack on the Modi government by Rahul Gandhi, who has evolved
himself during last six months. The manner in which Rahul raised the issues of
farmers and corruption is being viewed by the voters with great interest.
The
party leadership is getting direct feedback through district level leaders
being called to PCC headquarters for discussions with state president Raj
Babbar and Ghulam Nabi Azad. Veteran Congress leader Dr Ammar Rizvi says that
the party should close doors on outsiders and consider only loyalists who
remained with the party during its crisis for selection as candidates. (IPA Service)
The post Rahul’s Promise Of ‘Surprises’ Excites Up Congress appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
