Anil Anand
Uttar Pradesh, the largest state which accounts for 80 Lok Sabha seats, has created a political tsunami of a different variety. First it was the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)-Samajwadi Party (SP) the arch-rivals’ alliance that created ripples in polity beyond UP. And now Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s formal entry into politics as All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Eastern UP with other half of the politically significant state going under the charge of Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The two developments have re-established the political significance of UP primarily on account of the highest number of MPs it sends to Lok Sabha but more significantly in setting the political agenda for the entire nation. The BSP-SP alliance was the first trigger in this direction which in fact had paved the way for a bigger explosion when Congress was kept out this arrangement.
So, the advent of Priyanka Gandhi on the political scene in pursuit of Congress’ plan ‘B’!
As soon as the AICC announced her appointment, which was kept a closely guarded secret, through an innocuous routine press communiqué that was rather surprising, expectedly the chorus of dynastic and family rule mainly fuelled by the battery of arch-rivals BJP spokespersons was on full display. It (appointment) was certainly not unexpected but what made it more significant were the circumstances and the timing coming barely three months ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
The supporters welcomed the move and the rivals termed it as admission of failure of Rahul Gandhi’s leadership whereas the ilks of BSP and SP chose to be initially guarded and later going into respective huddles to mull over the emerging political situation. Again, it is no secret that despite talk of similarity of Priyanka’s mannerism and conduct to her grandmother the indomitable Indira Gandhi, and her behind the scene political management of family bastion Amethi-Rai Barelli, she has no proven track record of leadership or organisational skills.
Nevertheless and given this backdrop her formal entry into politics with a key assignment to reinvigorate Congress in UP has generated more interest, curiosity, anxiety, anger and anguish in different quarters depending upon the colour of the political hat that the particular viewer or observer wore. So the time tested adage perfectly fits in this situation: “You love her or hate her but you could certainly not miss Priyanka”. And that is the import of being Priyanka Gandhi.
Having said that, these certainly are not the best of situations for the political launch and that too of a “dynast” as the Nehru-Gandhi family’s bitter rivals describe its members. Yet another popular saying “baptism by fire” perfectly fits in this situation. Priyanka’s entry into politics when the chips are down for the Congress with even its prospective friends (read allies) not prepared to give much leeway but in turn expect the “elder brother” to be more accommodating, is no less than a baptism by fire.
All eyes henceforth would be riveted on her and her each and every move would be under close scrutiny. Since not much time is left for the Lok Sabha elections the task for her is as tough as the prescribed deadline to give results. Obviously the examination for her in this case is the Lok Sabha elections and task is to help Congress make its mark despite being sandwiched between BJP on one side and BSP-SP combine on the other.
Congress had never been known for its adventurist political skills till the phenomenon called Narendra Modi drubbed and shook them out of the slumber. The party under Rahul Gandhi seems to have picked up some time-tested skills that were unknown in the party portals and these are offence is the best defence with the mightiest of the generals ( read leaders) leading from the front and finally to put your best foot forward. The offence part has already been taken care of by Rahul and the other phenomenon had started taking shape when the party did not allow BJP’s established chief ministers in Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to have an easy go by fielding weak candidates against them in the recently held Assembly elections.
Priyanka’s appointment is a big leap forward in continuation of this policy and a total departure from Congress’ inglorious policy of saving and protecting the best and the strongest one does not know for which occasion. In fact this had become the core of the party’s sycophantic culture over the decades where during any trying circumstance the so called loyalists would counsel the top brass to remain invisible and no question of their rebutting or speaking out to dispel even the false propaganda.
She has a tough task ahead and very little time for experimentation. The Priynanka- Scindia youthful line-up of two “upper caste” leaders having been made in charge of UP does explain to some extent the scope of their assignment. It seems to be a two-pronged strategy that they are supposed to pursue in the next few weeks and that is to enthuse the party’s dormant rank and file as well as the general public or more precisely the targeted voter with a focus on youth.
Secondly and even more importantly help in working out the caste and religion combination that is different from what BJP and BSP-SP is looking at, and which would certainly entail weaning away some sections from these two groupings. Here comes into play the “upper caste” background of Priyanka and Scindia. It is no more a hidden fact that the “upper castes” the traditional support base of BJP have no love lost for the saffron party following the reservation related developments. A strong message has been sent to these castes by the Congress by these appointments.
Could Priyanka help Congress spin this magic even beyond the borders of UP?
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