The BSP’s strategy for 2024 general elections is trying hard to regain its lost base among Dalits and Muslims. After BSP registering its worst Uttar Pradesh assembly elections defeat in terms of seats, winning only one seat in the 403-member House, and garnering just 12.8% votes, in 2022, the backward caste party plans to focus more on Dalit and Muslim votes in UP. BSP chief Mayawati seems to be seriously concerned about her core Dalit vote ever since Congress began serious internal restructuring and Dalit outreach. Congress’s new national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, and its UP chief, Brijlal Khabri, are both Dalits. After the appointment of two Dalits to the top post of the Congress, Mayawati shot back at grand old party, saying: “Throughout its history, Congress has always ignored underprivileged groups and their leader, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Dalit messiah”. However, it must be remembered that Dalits were traditional voters for the Congress before the formation of the BSP. However, in the last few elections, a large section of non-Jatav Dalits swayed towards the BJP, and Jatav votes were also split between BSP, BJP, SP and Congress. If the Congress regains power once again in UP, Dalits might be shielded with it, which could further diminish the BSP in the future.
MCD POLLS: KEJRIWAL WOOS PURVANCHALI VOTERS WITH CIVIC GUARANTEES
Purvanchali voters, who form one of the biggest vote banks in Delhi, are being wooed by AAP, BJP and Congress alike, and the race of MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) polls is has intensified. BJP national president JP Nadda, while interacting with members of Chhath Puja Samitis, urged Purvanchali to offer their sincere blessings to the party in the MCD polls on December 4. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party candidates are busy holding marches, public meetings and door-to-door campaigns under the theme “MCD me bhi Kejriwal”. The Delhi CM has launched 10 guarantees aimed at the upcoming MCD elections, including solving parking problems, repairing roads, improving MCD schools and hospitals, beautifying parks, and timely payment of salaries, among others.
RAHUL WALKS MP LEG OF BHARAT JODO YATRA, ENTHUSES CADRES
Bharat Jodo Yatra, the ongoing political walk for peace and harmony and against the politics of hate, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, entered Bodarli village in Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur district from neighbouring Maharashtra on 23 November. Meanwhile, Nana Patole, the Maharashtra Congress president handed over the tricolour to Madhya Pradesh party chief Kamal Nath, to formally launch the 12-day-long yatra in the central Indian state, and here it will cover a distance of 380 km before entering Rajasthan. On the occasion, Rahul Gandhi stated, “This yatra is against hatred, violence and fear being spread in the country. We have started the Bharat Jodo Yatra by taking the tricolour in our hands from Kanyakumari. Nobody can stop this tricolour from reaching Srinanagar.”
IS SHASHI THAROOR BEING SHUNNED BY KERALA CONGRESS?
Disagreement has been brewing within Kerala Congress after Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor’s kicked off his Malabar tour to attend various programmes and meet public figures. It became quite evident when the Youth Congress walked out of hosting his session on “Sangh Parivar and Challenges to Secularism”. This activated allegations that the state leadership has imposed an undeclared ban on Tharoor. However, top leadership has denied such allegations, as considering them to be all false. Tharoor had sought a probe into the decision of Kerala Congress and Youth Congress local leaderships to back out from programmes he was scheduled to attend. Meanwhile, Congress MP K Muraleedharan said that there is a huge conspiracy brewing behind banning Tharoor. He said, “Some Chief Ministerial aspirants in the state and Congress leadership are behind the move”. On the other hand, the IUML, Congress’ main ally in the UDF, has shown keen interest in welcoming Tharoor to the main picture. He will attend various events organised by the party.
JAIRAM RAMESH DEFENDS RAHUL GANDHI’S SAVARKAR REMARK AS FACT
Congress communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh is popularly known as Sankat Mochan Hanuman (chief troubleshooter)within the party. Recently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had targeted Veer Savarkar, claiming that he helped the British rulers and wrote a mercy petition to them out of fear. Jairam Ramesh aided and defended Rahul Gandhi, saying that he did not target Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, but only highlighted a historical fact. Ramesh said, “Gandhi had mentioned Savarkar in context of how tribal leader Birsa Munda did not compromise with the British, while Savarkar signed a mercy petition, which is a fact.”
GUJARAT CONGRESS EXPECTS RAHUL’S YATRA TO MAKE BIG POLL IMPACT
Gujarat Congress leaders believe that Rahul Gandhi’s campaign will herald a massive change because he comes with the force of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which has completely turned his image for the better. His tours of two important cities, Surat and Rajkot, is expected to aid the party counter the ongoing perception that the Congress is not taking the contest seriously. Rahul’s interactions in tribal area Dahod just before the start of the Yatra had attracted a massive crowd. Rahul is expected to visit the place again in the first week of December, just before the polling for the final round, even as the state leaders are demanding one more day in between. (IPA Service)