Ashok Bhan
Rahul Gandhi has appointed two of the most popular and charming leaders as General Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh.By appointing Ms Priyanka Gandhi a favourite charismatic grand daughter of and a look alike Indira Gandhi Congress President has effectively responded to the ground zero mood and long standing demand from UP that craves for Congress Party to make a come back on the centre-stage.He has responded to the sensitivities of the general masses who are fatigued and sick with the casteist exploitation by the regional Parties and mandir politics of BJP.
Rahul Gandhi is seen to emerge as the leader in whom masses in the Hindi heartland and the bastion of BJP have placed their confidence and trust. It is proven that he has the power to influence and lead the country through the democratic and constitutional process. The country expects Indian National Congress under him to undertake the unfulfilled task of building modern India, free of intolerance, hate and discrimination in 2019 general elections.
The united Opposition with common political electoral strategy would gather and garner, at least, more than 65 per cent of the votes that did not vote for BJP in 2014 in a purported Modi wave. Congress party is making a common cause with like-minded and secular parties to defeat BJP. Congress president has proved his political astuteness, selflessness and skills after Gujrat photo finish contest,Karnataka coalition Government formation,Hindi heartland success of dislodging the incumbent BJP State Governments in Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Rajasthan . At the national level he is emerging as a uniting factor of the Opposition at different levels before 2019 elections.In his own Party affairs he is gaining authority and total pan india and diaspora support by the cadres.
The elections performance in MP,Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh has further convinced the combined Opposition that if the unity is astutely weaved without ego hassles, the BJP would face flak in 2019 elections. A tactical and united fight by opposition has set in a pattern of the people’s mood, anger and courage to vote against the failures of the BJP-led NDA government. Be it the unemployed youth, the farmers, the industry, middle class and the minorities, all sections are hit hard and suffering due to steep price rise and economic slowdown.
The combined opposition that has been trying to stitch up a united front of non-BJP parties at different levels be that by Ms Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh-Mayawati and KCR etc.is positively euphoric to take on and dislodge BJP in 2019 general election.
Rahul Gandhi is promoting the Congress party as protector of the voice and inclusive aspirations of people. He says, his party will always strive to lend political support to the people’s voice, and save the democracy, societal plurality, and the institutions. He attacks Modi model of governance as despotic and authoritarian and some of his slogans have stuck in the people’s psyche and has gained legitimacy because of distrust in broad sections due to major failures in the economy. Consequently, the common people are suffering colossal hardships. His campaign and appeal to the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to knock out BJP has finally been endorsed and his persona is seen as the Principal challenger and alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He has set a final stage for 2019 defeat of the saffron party.
Rahul Gandhi has been leading the party for quite some time into the dust and din of mass politics. With his hard work, the passion to lead from the front and skill to weave political understanding with youthful leadership and like-minded secular parties, he has emerged as a consensus leader and the real alternative to PM Modi. Notwithstanding the fact, that he does not have a level playing field with Modi, Rahul Gandhi has challenged Modi on his home turf in Gujarat and fiercely fought the electoral battle to bring his party neck to neck to BJP. Now Rahul Gandhi with his team has succeeded in knocking out Modi-Shah duo in their bastions.It is a major setback to invincibility of the Shah and his team.
The only mantra for Opposition to wrest power from BJP in 2019 is to know how to hold together and to be focused.The recent elections results have established the leadership of Rahul Gandhi across the Country and its for him to lead and unite anti BJP parties together for 2019 election with the focus to garner support of the notional 69 per cent population that did not vote for BJP in 2014 election and convert that to become real.
In India, 65 per cent of its population is under 35 years of age, and there is a huge aspirational India. The Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi with legacy of “the tryst with destiny” of Pandit Nehru, the patriotism and sacrifices of Indira Gandhi, the vision of Rajiv Gandhi and political outreach skills of Sonia Gandhi has a long way to go. The political and electoral success will chase him because he leads from the front, establishes an inclusive dialogue with masses, the Congress karikartas, promotes progressive narrative and creates a modern vision that resonates and connects the youth and the aspirational India.
The Congress party is now fine tuning positivity as the main tactic of forging “pragmatic alliances” and anti BJP strategic moves with other like-minded political parties. The United Opposition Party’s main poll campaign plank would be economy, the promise of growth, welfare, farmers, jobs and intolerance and failure in handling Kashmir affairs etc. The idea is to capitalise on the failures of Modi government to deliver on his poll promises.Congress and Opposition’s main constituency will have to be farmers, youth and women — the three of the most substantial demographic categories in the country.
(The author is Senior Advocate and Political Analyst)
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