Cul-de-sac for Sharad, Uddhav?

The Maharashtra results, which are against the expectations of many political analysts, have established that the Bharatiya Janata Party because of its superior strategy, robust organization and unlimited resources, is streets ahead of its opponents. It has in fact reversed the Lok Sabha trend, as it had done earlier in Haryana, and ensured that a government supported by it would be in power once again in the state.
The outcome of the polls has sent multiple messages across the political spectrum which the losers may find hard to digest. However, the allegations of EVM tampering which are being spoken about in hushed voices, will have no bearing until there is sufficient evidence to support this serious charge. It is evident that there is no proof so why talk about it.
The results have spelt out in clear terms that it would be a political cul de sac for both Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, who may find it extremely difficult to bounce back into relevance. As nephew Ajit Pawar had stated during the campaign, his uncle, Sharad was the party’s past, and he himself its future. Similarly, Eknath Shinde has ensured that the Shiv Sena cadres rallied behind him and deserted Uddhav Thackeray, who they accused of diluting the organization’s ideology by the tie-up with Pawar and the Congress.
In this context, the two rising stars of Maharashtra politics are both Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, who is likely to be retained as the Chief Minister, even though the BJP has won handsomely all over the state. Although, BJP sources are speaking about a Chief Minister from their party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to have the last word on the matter, may back Shinde for his stellar performance. Anyway, the issue would be clear soon.
The results have also come as a major setback for the I.N.D.I.A bloc and if things are not controlled immediately, it could lead to its disintegration. Nevertheless, there are many who are of the view that the defeat would keep the losers together and other members of the bloc would also see it as a warning.
The Congress, which has been very vocal during the past few weeks, also needs to understand that it was paramount for it to build its organization rather than attempt to build leaders. A strong organization shall always add to the political muscles of its leaders. In fact, the gains made by Rahul Gandhi during the Parliamentary polls, have all been neutralized, and the Congress has been relegated to a position of weakness with its fault lines being exposed in these elections.
Soon after the Lok Sabha elections, it was Rahul Gandhi who was on the offensive and was setting the narrative. However, during the past few months, the BJP has seized the initiative and is dictating the agenda, with the Congress responding or reacting. This needs to be properly looked into by the high command, which also must review its strategy and its over-emphasis on both Dalits and Muslims.
The Congress, whether it likes it or not, must comprehend that it is largely viewed as an anti-Hindu party, an impression formed rightly or wrongly, and which needs correction. The grand old party has never been casteist in its long journey and to make it depend on castes and creed is something which its supporters find it difficult to accept. Those advising the high command need to be from the party and the left-oriented jhollewalas should be emphatically told that their prescription was not going to cure the party’s illness.
The Maharashtra debacle could also lead to the high command reviewing the contribution of those who have been advising it. K.C. Venugopal, who is regarded as the right-hand man of Rahul Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh, the Communications head, may find themselves replaced, if the popular sentiment in the party has to be respected.
The leadership should also analyse the role of some others including the man who conducted the survey on the basis of which tickets were distributed. It is obvious, that the surveys went horribly wrong.
The Maharashtra outcome has overshadowed the victory of the I.N.D.I.A bloc in Jharkhand and the parliamentary debut of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. A senior functionary of the party overseeing things in Maharashtra, stated that the results would be dissected to see what went wrong as also the possibility of the EVMs being tampered.
The Congress has to be realistic and Rahul Gandhi should see through the designs of the sycophants, who have been trying to portray him as the Prime Minister-in-waiting. The reality is that the Congress is a 99-member party and has a long way to go. Till then, it has to settle down at being a good opposition.
From now onwards, the high command should restructure the organization and focus on having only those people in key positions who have a grassroots connect. The obsession with Adani does not resonate with the common people who want the party to deliver at the ground. The party’s leaders should select their issues carefully before attacking the government.
The BJP and its allies would be very content with the outcome and shall face the Parliament with absolute confidence. The Opposition shall have to think through its strategies which should not be dictated by the whims and fancies of some leaders but the political realities. Between us.