By Rahil Nora Chopra
To obtain Dalits votes in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the assembly elections in 2027, a section of the UP Congress leaders wants Mayawati on board the opposition front against the BJP. A tie-up with the BSP could help consolidate Dalit, Muslim and OBC votes behind the opposition, they feel. In this context, senior Congress leaders Rajendra Pal Gautam and Lok Sabha MP Tanuj Punia had recently attempted to meet with Mayawati, but returned without seeing her after reportedly receiving no response from her. However, Tanuj Punia clarified in a video statement that the visit to Mayawati’s residence was a personal programme undertaken by him and Rajendra Pal Gautam. He further stated that the Indian National Congress had not officially authorised any meeting with Mayawati. While the Congress has been buoyed by its performance in the Lok Sabha 2024 by winning six seats in the state, it now appears to be recalibrating its alliance priorities. Political observers believe that the wide distance between Congress and SP could be the key opportunity for the BSP. However, forging such an alliance may not be easy, since Congress is trying to mount pressure on the SP to negotiate a better share in the alliance in the assembly elections 2027.
UP CONGRESS BRACES FOR ORGANISATIONAL REJIG, BIGGER ROLE FOR PRIYANKA
Buzz doing rounds in the Congress is that the organisational reshuffle will take place soon amid internal discussions signifying major redistribution of responsibilities across the party structure. A number of senior Congress leaders are advocating a bigger role for Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra within the party. In view of the crucial Assembly elections scheduled next year in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa, the party wishes to complete the restructuring exercise well in advance. Changes in state leadership, including unit chiefs and key organisational posts, will be reconsidered. The Congress state unit president Ajay Rai is considered as the eyes and ears of the Priyanka Gandhi, hails from Bhumihar, a caste constituting a small population in eastern UP with influence in hardly five parliamentary segments. The grapevine is rife that the party is planning to appoint a new state president and is considering to replace him. Meanwhile, several Muslim and Dalit leaders of the Congress are aspiring that the next UP unit president should be from their respective community. The speculations are that state AICC in-charge Avinash Pandey is also likely to be replaced.
NCP FACTIONS MERGER TALKS REMAIN INCONCLUSIVE FOR NOW
Amid talk of both the NCP factions merger, the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) has concluded attempts for merger with Maharashtra deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), saying it will focus on its role as a more prominent opposition party. Meanwhile, NCP-SP working president Supriya Sule and former Maharashtra chief Jayant Patil clarified that the party has moved on, and merger talks are over. Speculations of unrest further got magnified after Sunetra Pawar reportedly held a closed-door meeting in Mumbai with election strategist Prashant Kishor. Her son and Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar was also present during the nearly two-hour discussion. According to sources, discussions reportedly included strategies to strengthen the NCP organisation in Maharashtra. However, Parth Pawar later downplayed the meeting, calling it a friendly interaction over the lunch.
RAJYA SABHA TO SEE POLLING IN 10 STATES ON JUNE 18, NEW FACES LIKELY
Political parties have turned their gaze on the Rajya Sabha polls, with elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats in 10 States, including four in Karnataka, to be held on June 18, with both the ruling NDA and the Opposition likely to marginally increase their strength in the Upper House. Along with this, bypolls to two Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu will also be held on the June 18 due to resignations of NCP’s Sunetra Pawar, who became Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, and AIADMK’s C V Shanmugam, who became an MLA. The bypoll in Tamil Nadu would be keenly watched as it is to be seen whether TVK makes an entry to the Upper House or leave the seat to ally Congress. Those completing their terms are Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge; senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh; JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda; In Karnataka, four seats including those held by Kharge, Deve Gowda, and BJP MPs K. Narayan and Eranna Kadadi will fall vacant. The Congress wishes to secure three of the four seats, up from the single seat it currently holds. Kharge is to be renominated. The Congress is also expected to retain one seat each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, leaders under consideration include former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera. In Madhya Pradesh, the names of former chief minister Kamal Nath and Meenakshi Natarajan are being discussed. However, Digvijaya Singh is reportedly unwilling to seek a third term in the Rajya Sabha.
VAIKO OPPOSES INCLUSION OF VANDE MATARAM IN TAMIL NADU GOVT FUNCTIONS
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko launched a strong attack on the PM SHRI three-language scheme and strongly opposed the inclusion of “Vande Mataram” in Tamil Nadu government functions. Vaiko appealed directly to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay not to permit its implementation in the state. The MDMK leader called the move a renewed attempt by the central government to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu. (IPA Service)
