In the wake of significant electoral defeats, Congress’ allies are seeking to reframe the power equations. For instance, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked the Congress to justify its leadership role in the INDI-Alliance instead of taking it for granted. TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee has stepped up to grab the mantle and is getting the support of satraps such as Sharad Pawar and Lalu Prasad Yadav. The Samajwadi Party, too, is flexing its muscles and has decided to support Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP against the Congress in the upcoming Delhi assembly polls. In Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray wants the Bharat Ratna for Savarkar.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) clamour to reclaim its Hindutva credentials is diametrically opposite to Rahul Gandhi’s consistent campaign against Savarkar. The Congress is finding itself at odds with allies on issues such as the Adani controversy, with the TMC and the SP breaking ranks with it. But setting the stage for another confrontation with the government, the Opposition, cutting across party lines, is asking for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s removal, accusing him of insulting Dr B R Ambedkar.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack, accusing the BJP and RSS of undermining Ambedkar’s contributions. While AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal wrote letters to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—both key allies of the BJP, Kejriwal has accused Shah of “hurting the sentiments of millions” and urged the two leaders to reconsider their alliance with the BJP. By keeping the spotlight on Shah’s remarks, they have effectively forced the BJP onto the defensive, a rarity in a Parliament where the ruling party often dictates the terms of debate. Once again the opposition is united against the BJP but the leadership debate continues. The growing support from non-Congress parties highlights the need for unity within the opposition to present a strong challenge to the BJP.
NEW LEADERSHIP IN UTTAR PRADESH UNIT OF THE CONGRESS
The Congress’s decision to dissolve the state executive, district, city and block units is the premiere step needed to rebuild the party organisation from scratch to make it ready for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The Congress hopes it will help increase its presence and also play a prominent role during alliance conversations. The party also aspires there could be more room for its leaders in strong seats in talks with allies. The grapevine is rife that Congress state unit president Ajay Rai, who is considered as the eyes and ears of Priyanka Gandhi, will be promoted and shifted to the AICC. Ajay Rai belongs to the Bhumihar caste, which has influence only in five parliamentary segments. The buzz is that KL Sharma, a highly trusted associate of the Gandhi family and MP from Amethi, may be appointed as the new head of the UP Congress. Kishori Lal Sharma has been managing the affairs of Amethi for the Gandhi family since 1984-85 and understands the UP Congress very closely. Additionally, he has established an office on Mahadev Road in New Delhi, where UP Congress complainants frequently visit. Sharma works to impart their issues to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi.
LEFT WANTS RIGHT TO CONTEST DELHI ASSEMBLY POLLS
Left parties will contest some seats in the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi, and have appealed to the Congress and to the Aam Aadmi Party that the ‘INDIA bloc’ should fight the Delhi elections together. At a press conference on Thursday, Left parties announced candidates for five seats and released a joint manifesto with a promise to grant full statehood to Delhi. The decentralisation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, transfer of powers to urban local bodies, and issues like unemployment, public distribution system, increasing minimum monthly wages to ₹26,000, and drinking water are among the issues that the Left parties will raise. The CPI(M) has fielded Delhi High Court advocate Ashok Agarwal and Jagdish Chand from Karawal Nagar and Badarpur respectively. The CPI(ML) plans to contest on two seats — Narela from where it has announced Anil Kumar, while it is yet to announce a candidate for the Kondli seat. The CPI has announced Shejo Varghese from Vikas Puri and Dalip Kumar from the Palam seat.
MIFFED CHAGGAN BHUJBAL BATS FOR HIMSELF
The 77-year-old OBC leader Chaggan Bhujbal who has decided to carry out a Maharashtra-wide tour and interact with people. “Jahan nahi chaina, wahan nahi rehna (There is no reason to stay where there is no satisfaction),” he said in his characteristic theatrical style, expressing frustration at being denied a berth in the new Mahayuti Cabinet by NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, claiming that BJP CM Devendra Fadnavis wanted to induct him as a minister. Bhujbal criticised Ajit Pawar for running the party according to his whims and fancy. Meanwhile, Pawar NCP Working President Praful Patel and Maharashtra NCP President Sunil Tatkare are expected to meet him after the winter session concludes in Nagpur. Bhujbal is also the President of the Akhil Bharatiya Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad, an organisation of the OBC community. Supporters have expressed firm backing for Bhujbal joining the BJP, emphasizing that his leadership is crucial for justice for OBCs and the better functioning of the government. As sentiments grow, political circles are abuzz, awaiting Bhujbal’s response to the evolving situation.
WAYANAD’S PRIYANKA BROUGHT PALESTINE TO PARLIAMENT
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on December 16 carried a bag to Parliament with ‘Palestine’ emblazoned on it, along with the image of a sliced watermelon with colours representative of the Palestine flag and of a drove, the symbol of peace. She expressed her solidarity with the Palestine cause. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed shared a photo of Vadra on ‘X’ highlighting the bag and saying, “A gesture of compassion, commitment to Justice and humanity.” While Priyanka has been outspoken on Palestine, calling Israeli attacks on Palestine as barbaric and a genocide, the BJP accused her of appeasement politics. On Tuesday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also showed her support for the Hindu and Christian minorities of Bangladesh. The message “Bangladesh ke Hindus and Christians ke saath khade ho” (Stand with the Hindus and Christians of Bangladesh) was prominently showcased on her Palestine bag.
ALL THOSE IN THE ‘ONE-NATION ONE ELECTION’ JPC
The two ‘One Nation One Election’ (ONOE) bills, including one requiring an amendment in the Constitution, lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections. These were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after a fiery debate. Opposition parties dubbed the draft laws — the Constitution amendment bill and the ordinary bill as an attack on the federal structure of the nation, a charge rejected by the government. The government will be sending the bills meant for simultaneous elections to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and the panel is likely to have 31 members — 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. According to sources, the Congress is planning to send Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manish Tewari, Sukhdeo Bhagat and Randeep Surjewala to the JPC. For the BJP’s part, the names of Anurag Thakur and PP Chaudhary are being considered. Other members of the JPC include Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav, TMC’s Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale, NCP-SP’s Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde. T M Selvaganapathy of the DMK, G M Harish Balayogi of the Telugu Desam Party. From the JD(U), it will most likely be Sanjay Jha. (IPA Service)