Sonia vs Sushma

So the cutout has finally become a candidate. Whoever said the great Indian electoral bandwagon was wearing thin, that an election a year entailed soporific replays, the same candidates, the same issues, the same histrionics? Oh no, democracy always delivers a good story, tons of colour. Witness the spiralling suspense and incredible intrigue enveloping Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s sudden flight to Hyderabad, the bemused party machinery in attendance at Bellary and Cuddapah alike, waiting for Madam to hop off an impatiently whirring helicopter and march forth determinedly and file her nominations papers from their respective constituencies. But then production of rumours, however inadvertent or guided, was not the preserve of the Congress alone, as the BJP swiftly got into the act, with Sushma Swaraj dashing to Bellary and Telugu movie star Vijaya Shanti being kept on standby in Cuddapah.

That Sonia’s candidature from Bellary makes sound sense is beyond doubt. In a nationwide scouring for safe seatsfor the lady from 10 Janpath, none could perhaps be more secure than the Karnataka constituency that has returned a Congress candidate in every single general election. Besides, by committing herself to the electoral fray in the very first round of voting, she will set at rest speculation about her political commitment and administer a morale boost to the Congress rank and file. And by seeking a foothold in the south, in addition to her anticipated nomination from the Gandhi family estate Amethi, Sonia is clearly eyeing the simultaneous assembly elections in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. By participating in a completely expendable last-minute drama, however, the Congress president has further dented the earnest posture she struck to much praise at Pachmarhi. Surely she was aware that inordinate and unnecessary secrecy about seat selection can send rather confused signals to the electorate. After her "we have 272" faux pas at Rashtrapati Bhawan this April, the Congress’s primary crowd puller can ill afforddiffident vibes.

Having said that, Bellary looks by a far shot the confrontation of the autumnal elections. If Sonia Gandhi will leave no stone unturned in her maiden electoral bid, her opponent is bound to take her on with a feisty aggressiveness — jibe for jibe, colourful sari vs an even more colourful six yards, a resplendent bindi for a demurely draped head. Because, for Swaraj the tenor and texture of the contest will probably be far more critical than the actual counting of votes. Not only will her attacks on the Congress chief be amplified by the media across the country, but her very nomination against Sonia Gandhi marks Swaraj’s rehabilitation after something of an estrangement within her party. The electoral field is splattered with curious fixtures this year, but make no mistake, the Sonia versus Sushma campaign will resonate through the many phases of polling India is gearing itself for.