English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest Politics News

BJP remains the undisputed dominant party, but can the Congress become a credible challenger now

Published

8 years ago

on

modi-rahul

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]~By Rajesh Sinha

The BJP emerged victorious in assembly polls, reaffirming its status as the dominant party in the country. Many, however, also see a revival of sorts for the Congress which managed to put up a tough fight in BJP bastion, the ‘Hindutva laboratory’ and home state of its top two leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah. Also noticed was the coming into his own of Rahul Gandhi, newly elevated as Congress chief.

The question is, will the Congress under Rahul Gandhi be able to fight back and emerge as a credible challenger to Modi-Shah-led BJP? Together with other Sangh parivar affiliates, BJP under Modi-Shah duo determines not just the agenda for governance but also the society, either of the two aspects taking centre stage as per the situation.

Now that the assembly election results are out, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is once again talking about ‘vikas’ and how the BJP owes its victory to it. The theme was conspicuous by its absence during the shrill election campaign that he led from the front and seems aimed more at keeping the faith of voters in his projected image of a man who delivers – failures notwithstanding.

That is what the BJP owes its victory to – voters’ faith in Modi, his personal appeal. They were unwilling to desert him even after the blow dealt by inept implementation of demonetisation and the GST, and it was he that the electoral battle was turned into, especially during the campaign in the second phase. It was not about development – ‘vikas’ – but more about ‘insult’ to ‘Gujarat ka beta’ (Gujarat’s son) in the ‘neech’ comment of Mani Shankar Aiyar and the bizarre charge of Congress being hand-in-glove with Pakistan which wanted Ahmed Patel as Gujarat chief minister.

This was after the first phase in which the Congress significantly improved its previous tally and the BJP leadership was defensively avoiding answers to charges of scam in Rafale deal or BJP chief Amit Shah’s son’s controversial business deals, or development (‘vikas’) gone crazy. In Saurashtra, Congress won 28 seats as compared to 15 in the 2012 election.

In the end, the BJP did manage to save the day and improved its vote share marginally – from 47.85 per cent of total votes polled (48.30 of total in seats it contested) to 49.1 per cent. So did the Congress – from 38.93 per cent of total votes polled (40.59 per cent of total in the seats it contested) to 41.4 per cent. But Congress improved its seats by 16 and the BJP lost as many. In fact, the BJP tally came down to double digits for the first time since 1995.

Also, in at least 15 seats, BJP candidates’ margin of victory was less than 3,000 votes. In many, the number of votes polled by independents and ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) was bigger than the margin of victory.

As reported by APN yesterday (Monday, Dec 18), the Congress appears to have obtained a good support in rural areas while the urban and semi urban voters preferred the BJP. Of the 73 urban clusters, BJP led in 55 and, out of 109 seats in rural areas, the Congress was ahead in 62. Modi’s ‘vikas’ seems to have bypassed rural areas.

As for the way ahead, there are a series of battles lined up. Assembly elections are scheduled in eight states – Meghalaya, Karnataka, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – next year (2018). After that will follow the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

Both parties would need to work on their strengths and remove weaknesses. The task is easier for the more organised BJP, with its leaders already talking about getting to work for the next election. For Lok Sabha, the ‘Mission 2019’ is already on. As far agenda is concerned, the BJP is accustomed to dictating it, leaving the Congress to react to it. That it is mostly aimed at polarisation is another matter – even in 2014, when the people were sick of scams and ready to get rid of Congress, this element was very much there even though Modi himself was talking vikas then.

And, after the present assembly poll results were declared, the charge made against Congress by BJP leaders – of polarising society along caste lines – is also because it undermines the other polarisation BJP and Modi worked to promote. That is a card BJP always has.

For the Congress, it is still a long road. Taking its strengths, its defeat in Gujarat, home state of both PM Modi and Amit Shah and BJP’s original laboratory of Hindutva, has not been disheartening for the Congress as it managed to make gains and improve its tally significantly. Some analysts even called it a ‘revival’ of Congress and the death of the ‘TINA’ (There Is No Alternative) factor in Indian politics.

In estimating Congress performance, while BJP has made much about its defeat despite the most favourable circumstances, one also has to take note of the fact that the party, whose organisation was in shambles and had suffered the jolt of its top leader Shankersinh Vaghela quitting the party with 14 MLAs just a few months ago, still managed to put up a serious fight and had the BJP rattled. It was because of this that the BJP government in the state used the extra time it got due to delayed poll dates to give out a number of sops and Modi inaugurating a spate of projects, from ferry service to parking lots.

Another positive for Congress is that its new top leader Rahul Gandhi is no longer seen as a liability. He is now taken more seriously and is not being referred to as ‘Pappu’ anymore. He has to build on this, consolidate his leadership and give direction to the party – ideological and programmatic. The positive for Congress in its defeat is that it would perhaps not become complacent. The organisation has to be built and party units set up: the BJP has done it from booth level upwards.

Most importantly, the Congress has to take care of an aspect directly linked to the ideological aspect and program. The push it got from movements led by Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, OBC leader Alpesh Thakur and Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel would need to be looked into and the inherent lesson learnt and marshalled. It is not enough to opportunistically try to capitalise on the prevailing mood, or seek gains by appeasing the vocal section of society or a community. The party needs to define its stance in keeping with the progressive, democratic, secular principles it claims to adhere to. This stance should determine its response in various cases. The party needs to provide direction to society and show it a way, rather than being swayed and buffeted about its currents. The significance of having a vision for the kind of society needs to be understood, for it is as important in a developing (if not actually ‘backward’) society as a program for governance. This is one feature that has been missing in Congress plans and functioning, while the BJP has an active ‘Hindutva’ program. Even the regional parties that have come up have had a social agenda at their foundation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

India News

Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre ahead of Vladimir Putin’s India visit

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government discourages visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting Opposition leaders, calling it a sign of “insecurity,” hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi.

Published

1 day ago

on

December 4, 2025

By

Rahul Gandhi

As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi today for the India-Russia Annual Summit, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has renewed his charge that the Centre discourages visiting foreign leaders from meeting Opposition representatives. He called it a sign of “insecurity” within the government.

Rahul Gandhi alleges break in long-followed tradition

Speaking outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said that it has traditionally been the norm for visiting foreign leaders to meet the Leader of the Opposition, a practice he claims continued during the tenures of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.

He alleged that the present government advises foreign dignitaries against such meetings. “When foreign leaders come, the government suggests they should not meet the Leader of the Opposition. This is their policy,” Gandhi said. He added that a meeting with the Opposition offers visiting leaders a broader perspective, as “we too represent India.”

Gandhi further stated that this approach reflects the government’s reluctance to allow engagement between the Opposition and foreign guests.

Former Foreign Secretary counters Gandhi’s remarks

Responding to Gandhi’s allegations, former Foreign Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla said visiting leaders operate on very tight schedules and there is no protocol mandating a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition. He stressed that such interactions depend entirely on the guest’s time and preference, noting that the required meetings are those with the President and the Prime Minister.

Putin’s schedule packed with bilateral engagements

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to land in Delhi this evening on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation. His itinerary includes:

  • A private dinner with PM Modi
  • Visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Raj Ghat
  • Engagements at Bharat Mandapam and Hyderabad House
  • A banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu

The visit forms part of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

Continue Reading

India News

TMC MLA Humayun Kabir suspended after Babri Mosque replica proposal sparks row

TMC suspended MLA Humayun Kabir after he proposed building a Babri mosque replica in Murshidabad, a move that drew criticism from the party and sparked political tension.

Published

1 day ago

on

December 4, 2025

By

Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended MLA Humayun Kabir after he publicly announced plans to construct a replica of the Babri Masjid in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. Party leaders said Kabir had earlier been cautioned for making such statements but continued to push ahead with the controversial proposal.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said the MLA’s remarks were unacceptable, stressing that the party stood firmly by its secular stance. “We noticed that one of our MLAs suddenly declared he would build the Babri masjid. We had warned him before. As per the party’s decision, we are suspending him,” he said.

Kabir vows to continue project, may form new party

Kabir had planned to lay the foundation stone for the mosque replica in Beldanga on December 6. Sources indicated he is likely to resign from Trinamool on Friday and float a new party while continuing with the project.

The choice of date and nature of the project drew sharp criticism from the Trinamool leadership. Hakim alleged the move reflected a “divisional politics” strategy aligned with the BJP. “Why December 6? He could build a school or college. This is divisional politics,” he said.

Sources also said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “hugely annoyed” by Kabir’s remarks and informed him that the party would not support or associate with such activities.

Governor raises concerns, administration on alert

West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose questioned why action was not being taken if the MLA’s statements risked creating a law-and-order issue. He said intelligence inputs suggested attempts to turn Murshidabad into a “hub of scandal,” adding that authorities would not remain silent if communal tensions were provoked.

Officials confirmed that while Kabir has permission to hold the December 6 event, the administration is maintaining a high-level alert in Murshidabad.

Minutes after his suspension, Kabir withdrew from Mamata Banerjee’s rally in the India–Bangladesh border district, where she was protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

BJP attacks Kabir over remarks

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo condemned Kabir’s comments, claiming they were intended to “create communal tensions.” He said any attempt to raise structures linked to historical rulers would trigger disputes similar to the Babri Masjid conflict.

Continue Reading

India News

Karnataka Power Shift: What Siddaramaiah–DK Shivakumar compromise formula means

A closer look at the emerging ‘compromise formula’ between Karnataka’s top leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and how it may shape the state’s political future.

Published

6 days ago

on

November 29, 2025

By

A possible settlement between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has emerged, signalling a calmer phase in the leadership tussle within the state Congress. While the final decision rests with the party leadership in Delhi, details of the so-called “compromise formula” are gradually becoming clearer.

Breakfast diplomacy calms tensions

After weeks of speculation over friction between the two top leaders, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met over breakfast today. The meeting, aimed at projecting unity, served as a symbolic reset after their strained ties over the chief ministership question.

Analysts believe the optics were crucial — the Congress successfully avoided a public showdown by diffusing tensions before they escalated further.

A transition of power likely, say analysts

According to political observers, the compromise indicates a strong possibility of Shivakumar taking over as Chief Minister in a smooth transition, potentially as early as March–April 2026.
For now, sources say the arrangement requires Shivakumar to continue as Deputy Chief Minister without pushing for immediate change.

In return, the formula reportedly includes more cabinet positions for leaders loyal to Shivakumar and continuation of his role as the state Congress chief. Siddaramaiah is also expected to back Shivakumar as the party’s face for the 2028 Assembly election.

Why the Congress prefers this route

Replacing Siddaramaiah abruptly would not only upset internal balance but could also weaken the party, given his stature and mass appeal. Shivakumar, despite his influence, does not have the numbers within the legislature to force a takeover, making compromise the most viable path.

Siddaramaiah has already stated that this will be his final term as Chief Minister. With his legacy secure and his position as one of Karnataka’s tallest leaders intact, he appears willing to enable a dignified transition when the time comes.

Variables that could shape the final outcome

The success of the formula depends on three key factors:

1. Trust between the two leaders

Whether Shivakumar believes Siddaramaiah will keep his word remains uncertain. Karnataka’s political history is full of last-minute shifts, giving rise to the phrase “natak in Karnataka”.

2. Decision-making by the Congress high command

Delhi’s leadership must ensure the transition happens on time and without internal resistance, especially in the run-up to the 2028 Assembly polls.

3. Caste equations and political alignment

Siddaramaiah is the strongest face of the AHINDA bloc, while Shivakumar represents the OBC Vokkaliga community. The Congress cannot afford to alienate either group, making the timing and execution of any transition extremely delicate.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com