Whatever the outcome for the Congress, it will continue to exist. But that may not be the case with some regional parties.
In electoral politics, there are interesting twists and turns of fierce competition, compromises, splits, power, and downfall. But this time, in the Lok Sabha elections, there is an interesting situation for many national and regional parties, as well as leaders in their final battle and sunset. For some senior leaders, including the oldest Congress party and the political future of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, this is the final stage of the election.
History also reminds us that for decades, Congress has been visible in various forms, divisions. After leading the Lok Sabha elections and the party for nearly twenty years, Sonia Gandhi has now come to the Rajya Sabha for 6 years and the party president is also Mallikarjun Kharge. He is also turning 83 years old. So, perhaps, he will not be seen in the electoral field in 2029. Another senior leader, P. Chidambaram, is 78 years old. Since 2014, he has sent his beloved son Karti Chidambaram to fight the Lok Sabha elections and is himself enhancing the glory of the Rajya Sabha since 2016. In 2029, he will be 83 years old. Even in the Lok Sabha elections, he goes to campaign in limited places. Now he will be active regarding the future of his son. The situation is similar for 77-year-old Kamal Nath.
He has handed over the charge to his son Nakul Nath for the Lok Sabha. His associate Digvijay Singh is contesting the Lok Sabha at the age of 76. They are members of the Rajya Sabha and dream of their sons becoming the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh some time.
Whatever the outcome for the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, it will continue to exist.
But some regional parties may come to a situation where they may not be seen in the next election. The most unfortunate situation is that of Sharad Pawar, the Maratha warrior of politics since the 1970s. In the politics of Congress, after being in the next line of power struggle, support, opposition, and many coalitions and after running in the race for Prime Minister for a time, Sharad Pawar has lost the symbol for his Nationalist Congress Party.
Sharad Pawar is now dragging his wobbly boat of politics with the support of Rahul Gandhi, Uddhav Thackeray, Arvind Kejriwal, and Tejashwi Yadav. In his young age, Sharad Pawar, who came to the public sector through the game of kabaddi organization, places his eyes and feet like in kabaddi, on the line between both the places. He is still adept at holding someone’s hand in the game of power or getting him out. He had already announced that he would not actively participate in politics. Meaning, it’s the sunset of Sharad Pawar’s NCP.
After the elections, if Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar’s daughter come together again, then there may be a new path for their companions.
Among the regional parties, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which was the most ambitious, recently changed its name to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi. But even for this party, established by KCR in 2001, this Lok Sabha election is like the final chapter. Even the KCR family’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi entered politics from the Congress’s path. But in 1983, with the support of the famous Telugu Desam Party and Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, they became ministers. One reason for this was also that KCR’s family members were in-laws. Later, they got a chance to work in Chandrababu Naidu’s ministry. Became Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. But after twenty years, they formed their own new party for Telangana and started an agitation, separate from their own state. The demand for Telangana was from the 1960s. KCR really started a big movement and also won in the elections. He made an alliance with the Congress in 2004, promising a new state. Became a minister in the Manmohan Singh government. But when Narsimha Rao himself was not ready to give a separate Telangana, how easily did Manmohan Singh agree? KCR, angry, resigned and went into a long hunger strike.
After this, he ruled his own Telangana party and state in his own way until 2023. Made his son a minister. Daughter became a Member of Parliament first and then a member of the legislative council. Both hoped to become chief ministers. KCR pleased the public with some attractive programs. But he gave open freedom to family and supporters for arbitrary decisions and corruption. Not only that, from 2022-23, he started dreaming of becoming Prime Minister by forming his own coalition in national politics. There was also a big reason for astrology and blind faith. Under this campaign, Kavita joined Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party leader and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in political and economic relations. The result is that while the KCR party was badly defeated in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, Kavita was jailed in Delhi for a scam of hundreds of crores in the Delhi liquor scam. Such cases go on for years. Later, whatever decision is made in this Lok Sabha election, the condition of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) seems to be deteriorating. So how will there be any hope for KCR in 2029?
Kavita’s new companions Arvind Kejriwal and his party will continue to sink in national politics. The old partners, Chandrababu Naidu and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), are also fighting for existence in Andhra Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections. Naidu is now 73 years old. He has experienced power, opposition, and jail. He was Chief Minister from 1995 to 2004. He continued to make alliances with the BJP, Congress, and other parties. This time, seeing the heavy popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he joined the alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The result will depend on the results of the Assembly and Lok Sabha. In this sense, this election will start a new chapter in Indian politics.