With the assembly elections in Delhi moving towards a triangular electoral battle, the BJP, Congress and AAP have been locking horns head-on. Meanwhile, the AAP vs. Congress battle is also heating up. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on 28 January visited the Valmiki Temple, and offered prayers and engaged with residents in the Dalit colony of the constituency. As a gesture of respect, locals presented a turban to the Congress leader. On the other hand, interacting with Dalit influencers at the “Vanchit Samaj: Dasha aur Disha” programme, Rahul Gandhi said he did not have any hesitation in admitting that the Congress party did not protect the interests of the Dalits and the backward classes the way it should have in the 1990s. Contrasting the 1990s with the period under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi said Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and Backward Classes had full confidence under her leadership. He also said that once the original base of the Congress party is back, the BJP and the RSS would have to run away. The statement is in line with Rahul Gandhi’s larger outreach to Dalits and OBCs. While Rahul has been working hard to build a Muslim-Dalit-Backward support base for some time, his stance against the politics of hate and polarisation through his ‘mohabbat ki dukan’ pitch, the caste census call, and the demand for the removal of the 50 percent ceiling on reservations all tie into the effort.
IS UDDHAV’S SHIV SENA RECONCILING WITH MAHARASHTRA BJP?
The talk in the political circles of Maharashtra that there is likely to be a reconciliation between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and the BJP. However, during the workers conference at Shirdi, BJP leader Amit Shah dismissed the possibility of rejoining hands with Uddhav Thackeray again. While Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed some of the leaders in the BJP wished to have an alliance with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, an assertion that CM Devendra Fadnavis outrightly dismissed. Raut also said that even some members of his party might share the sentiment. He, however, clarified that no such discussion had taken place within Sena (UBT).Sanjay Raut’s statement came after Thackeray’s aide and member of the legislative council Milind Narvekar and BJP minister Chandrakant Patil had a few jovial salutation exchanges in the presence of the Sena (UBT) chief at the wedding reception of MLA Parag Alavani’s daughter on Wednesday night.
AKHILESH YADAV EXTENDS KEJRIWAL BIG SUPPORT FOR DELHI POLLS
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has extended ardent support to AAP in Delhi as he joined former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s road show in the national capital. Kejriwal, in return, thanked his ‘parammitra’ Akhilesh Yadav who came all the way from Uttar Pradesh. While Akhilesh targeted both the Congress and the BJP and claimed that the two parties were contesting the assembly elections together and there was ILU-ILU (a Hindi film song suggesting romantic ties) between them. The SP chief said that the work that Arvind Kejriwal’s party has put forth in all spheres viz. healthcare, education, free electricity and water is a testimony to AAP’s dedication for people. The SP, Congress and AAP, who are INDIA bloc partners and fought the 2024 Lok Sabha election together but the latter Congress and AAP are contesting the Delhi assembly elections separately.
JD(U) BRACES FOR BIHAR CM NITISH KUMAR SON NISHANT’S POLITICAL DEBUT
Ahead of Bihar assembly elections, the speculation is rife that Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is all set to make a grand political debut soon because of tremendous pressure from JD(U) leaders and workers. A source within the party said that Nishant seems to be ready to enter politics, but a green signal from the CM is awaited. While attending an event where Nishant accompanied Nitish Kumar to their hometown of Bakhtiyarpur on January 8 and unveiled statues of freedom fighters, he appealed to public and said, “If it is possible, please vote for the JD(U) and my father and bring him back.” However, Nitish Kumar finally pulled the ace from his cards to revive his politics — the son card. Nishant Kumar, 49, is an engineer like his father and has so far maintained the lowest profile among the Bihar dynasts, unlike Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav, the sons of Lalu Yadav, as well as Chirag Paswan, the son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan. Sources within JD(U) reveal that some party leaders want Nishant to join politics, fearing the party could face internal conflicts once Nitish retires. However, others believe that Nishant’s entry is unlikely as long as Nitish remains active in politics.
CONGRESS PROMISES WELFARE SCHEMES, CASH BENEFITS FOR DELHI POLLS
The Congress is trying to once again connect with voters through welfare promises and criticism of AAP’s governance. The party’s guarantees campaign includes the introduction of the Pyaari Didi Yojana, offering Rs 2,500 per month to eligible women in Delhi. This move targets women voters, drawing inspiration from successful schemes in other states. Congress has released its manifesto for the Delhi Assembly elections, making a chain of promises aimed at job creation, social justice, and public welfare. The party vowed to fill vacant government positions, abolish contractual hiring, conduct a caste survey, and introduce a 33% job reservation for women. Among its key commitments, the party promised to strengthen the Delhi SC/ST/OBC/Minority and Handicapped Development Finance Corporation, ensuring low-interest loans for marginalized communities to start businesses. It also pledged to establish a Scheduled Castes Commission to address grievances and enhance scholarships for SC students. Focusing on the city’s workforce, the party vowed to introduce an Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act and set up 100 Indira Canteens. With a focus on rejuvenating its base and challenging AAP on critical issues, the Congress has shown its determination to regain relevance. However, whether it can make a significant impact remains uncertain. If the Congress succeeds in attaining back key voters, it could once again become a prominent contender. (IPA Service)
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