Opinion Congress in UP: All that’s certain is that there’s uncertainty about everything
The fear and risk of the party's strategy going wrong is forcing it to double check the expected outcomes.
Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi during an event organised by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation at Jawahar Bhavan. *** Local Caption *** Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi during an event organised by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation at Jawahar Bhavan. Express photo by Renuka Puri. 
-
Share -
-
-
Amidst all the speculations, there are certain things which are clear: Priyanka Gandhi will campaign beyond Amethi and Rae Bareli but “in which capacity, to what extent and under what role?’ is still the question. (Express Archive)
The Congress, which has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for almost 27 years now, has not seen such a commotion in the state for a long time, not even when Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was made the face of the UP election campaign in 2012. While some within the party blame it on too much hype surrounding its poll strategist Prashant Kishore, the fact remains that Congress has more at stake in this UP election than ever in the past.
The party, which hopes to send signals of its revival from the state, seems ready to experiment-be it exposing Priyanka Gandhi beyond the Gandhi family bastions of Rae Bareli and Amethi, or with social engineering suggestions but at the same time the fear and risk of its strategy going wrong is forcing it to double check the expected outcomes.
WATCH VIDEO: Congress Names Sheila Dikshit As UP CM Candidate
It is this checking and re-checking, rounds of consultations with leaders, which is delaying the actual announcements which have been finalised at least twice in the past 25 days. This at a time when the party is preparing to start up its Uttar Pradesh campaign next week from Lucknow.
[related-post]
Amidst all the speculations, there are certain things which are clear: Priyanka Gandhi will campaign beyond Amethi and Rae Bareli but “in which capacity, to what extent and under what role?’ is still the question.
Secondly, Congress state president Nirmal Khatri will not continue in that role. Sources have confirmed that his request to Congress President Sonia Gandhi to relieve him of the responsibility has been accepted. The party wanted him to continue till a decision about another state president was taken but the status of that remains unclear.
Watch Video: What’s making news
Thirdly, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, has accepted to play a role in the UP elections but party has failed to take a final decision the nature of her role. Some suggested bringing her into the election campaign along with Priyanka Gandhi, others suggest maikng her the CM candidate whereas as there is a section of senior leaders, who have recommended that she be made the state president and de-facto chief minister face without saying it in so many words.
By bringing Sheila Dikshit forward, the party had decided a fortnight ago to make either a OBC like Raja Ram Pal or a Dalit face as the state president but that would depend on the role finalised for Dikshit because party cannot afford to have prominent Brahmin faces at two places.
Amidst all this, some leaders also started supporting the name of Rajya Sabha MP Raj Babbar as one of the contenders for the state president post as well. Others being considered apart from former MP Rajaram Pal is Rajesh Mishra and another Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari.
Uncertainty prevails at all levels in the Congress from the AICC to the state unit. With Nirmal Khatri shutting himself up in his home at Faizabad, even the party spokespersons are unclear about which line to take even as rounds of meetings continue in Delhi with senior leaders.
-
Share
-
-
-
Share
