After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi drove a tractor to the Parliament and asked the government to repeal farm laws at the earliest, he led a meeting of opposition leaders on August 3 to formulate a pan-India strategy to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections. Gandhi called on all parties to unite against the Modi government over a range of issues, including the Pegasus snooping, the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing farmers’ agitation. The leaders of 15 parties, including the Trinamool Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena, DMK, CPM, CPI, RJD, JMM, Samajwadi Party and National Conference, besides the IUML, RSP, KCM and Sharad Yadav’s LJD, were present at the meeting, apart from the Congress’s Kharge, Chowdhury, KC Venugopal, Anand Sharma and P Chidambaram. Parties like Aam Aadmi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, which are trying to project an equidistance from both Congress and BJP, stayed away. Gandhi said: “The single motive to invite you is that we should unite. The more this voice unites, the more powerful it will become, the more difficult it will become for the BJP and RSS to suppress this voice”. After the meeting, several opposition MPs led by Gandhi cycled to the Parliament to highlight the issue of rising fuel prices, particularly petrol which has crossed Rs 100 per litre mark in various parts of the country. Parliament has not been able to function due to ongoing protest by the opposition over alleged snooping issue, farmers’ protest and rising fuel prices. The opposition has demanded a discussion in Parliament and a Supreme Court-monitored probe in the snooping matter, which the apex court has taken cognizance of, commencing the hearing. Though Gandhi has assumed the lead in taking on the government as well as reaching out to other parties, there are question marks over who will lead the Opposition against the as-yet electorally invincible Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Will it be Rahul Gandhi or someone else? Naturally, the Congress strategy group is working in a mission mode to bring out Rahul as the main contender for the opposition leader’s mantle against Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
WITH PAN-UP CYCLE YATRA, AKHILESH PUSHES THE POLL PEDAL
With an eye on the Uttar Pradesh 2022 assembly polls, the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has begun his cycle yatra in Lucknow to raise issues such as price rise, unemployment, farm laws, crime rate, as well as to demand the release of jailed SP leader, Azam Khan. In fact, cycle yatras were organised across the state at the tehsil-level to also mark the birth anniversary of veteran socialist leader, Janeshwar Mishra. Akhilesh Yadav said: “I was saying that we will win 350 seats. But seeing the anger of people, I can say we can now win 400 seats.” Uttar Pradesh has 403 assembly seats. This yatra which is expected to cover a distance of 5-10 kilometres in all districts of UP. The party also plans to take out a Rath Yatra in the state in October which will cover almost all the 75 districts of the state. As of now, SP is the main rival of the ruling BJP led by Yogi Adityanath in the state, with SP currently ahead of both BSP and Congress. SP is also likely to form alliance with smaller parties like RLD, Peace Party etc.
LALU BATS FOR CHIRAG, WANTS HIM TO JOIN FORCES AGAINST MODI
RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav has favoured a tie-up between LJP leader Chirag Paswan and his party, and backed the young leader Chirag to emerge victorious in his factional fight with his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras. Lalu said: “Whatever happened in the LJP, Chirag Paswan continues to be the leader of LJP. Yes, I want Chirag Paswan and Tejashwi Yadav to come together.” Meanwhile, Chirag Paswan, who is spearheading Ashirwad Yatra in Bihar to rally support for his cause, expressed gratitude to the former state chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav for the support, but refrained from making any political comment. However, Pashupati Kumar Paras had led a group of five Lok Janshakti Party MPs against his nephew, who is the only MP left in his faction, and has joined the Modi government as a cabinet minister. Meanwhile, indications abound that the emerging political formations could be bipolar, one led by the BJP and the other by the Congress, and into the latter Lalu appears to be trying to bring in Samajwadi Party and other like-minded outfits to give credible battle to PM Narendra Modi in UP, Bihar and Jharkhand, which together account for the whopping 134 parliamentary seats.
CONGRESS WOOS UP DALITS WITH AN EYE ON 2022 ASSEMBLY POLLS
To woo the Dalit community voters ahead off the 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit celebrated Dalit Swabhiman Diwas in the entire state on August 3. Along with this, a one-day Dalit Swabhiman Yatra was also be taken out in the entire district of the state to reach out to Dalit settlements and make them aware of the contribution of Congress in ensuring the rights to the Dalit community. The Congress in UP, which is trying to find its lost political ground in Uttar Pradesh, has already organized conferences related to the castes that play an important role in the state politics. The grand old party has so far organized the Nishad-Kevat-Mallah conference, Maurya-Shakya-Saini-Kushwaha conference and Pal-Gaderia-Dhangar-conference. According to political observers, Dalit voters will play a crucial part in deciding the outcome of the 2022 assembly polls in UP and that is why all parties are attempting to reach out to them. Congress general secretary in-charge of UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who had recently visited Lucknow, said that her party had an open mind on alliance in UP. Although the party high command favours an alliance, some senior UP leaders want the party to go solo in the UP polls.
ASSAM PCC CHIEF BHUPEN BORAH IS A RAHUL FAVOURITE
Recently appointed Punjab PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Kerala PCC chief K Sudhakaran and Assam PCC chief, Bhupen Kumar Borah are all close to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Borah appointed Assam PCC chief inspite of not being a sitting member of the legislative assembly or Member of Parliament. He has lost three successive polls one Lok Sabha and two state assembly elections. This appointment reflects the confidence Rahul Gandhi has in him. Borah came through the ranks, has impressive oratorical skills and a political astute. But he is taking over at a time when the state unit is riven with factionalism. (IPA)
RBI Licensing Policy Is Favouring Private Sector Under Modi Regime 