Rahul unites Cong in Kerala, seeks new equations in Maharashtra

New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has changed his political approach after the winter session. Rahul is now directly communicating with state leaders and giving them directions. He has met with more than a dozen state leaders, and the meetings are continuing. 

Not only that, he also tried to resolve the grievances of MP Shashi Tharoor through dialogue, ensuring that everything appears to be well in Kerala until the elections. Kerala is one of the states where elections are to be held in April. After winning the local body elections, the Congress is very hopeful of a comeback in Kerala this time. Rahul, demonstrating political maturity, has united the Congress by placating Tharoor, which is expected to benefit the party in the elections. 

It has rarely been seen before that Rahul has engaged in direct communication like this. Earlier, he had instructed the Punjab Congress leaders to fight the elections unitedly. This indicates that Rahul has started to understand that strengthening the states is crucial for national politics. If the Congress wins one or two states in the upcoming elections, it will significantly boost the morale of the party workers. The Congress has high hopes from Assam and Kerala. 

Not only that, Rahul is also serious about Maharashtra. Sources say that his attempt in Maharashtra is to merge Sharad Pawar’s NCP with the Congress. If the NCP merges, Supriya Sule could take over the reins of the Congress in Maharashtra, and Sharad Pawar is reportedly supportive of this plan. However, other sources suggest that the BJP is trying to unite Sharad Pawar’s NCP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP and bring them into the MahaYuti alliance. 

An agreement had reportedly been reached between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. The merger was scheduled for February 12. Two possibilities were being discussed: one was that Sharad Pawar would retire from politics after his Rajya Sabha term ended in March, his daughter Supriya would handle Delhi politics, and Ajit would manage state politics. However, Ajit Pawar’s death has changed the political landscape in Maharashtra. 

It remains to be seen in the coming days whether Sharad Pawar joins the BJP or merges his party with the Congress. The BJP will try its best to bring both factions of the NCP into its alliance. If this does not happen, former CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena could become more powerful within the MahaYuti alliance. After Ajit Pawar’s death, Eknath Shinde is now considered a Maratha leader with a strong hold across Maharashtra. 

However, in the new political developments, the equation for the two NCP factions to unite seems disrupted after Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, became the Deputy Chief Minister of the state. Sharad Pawar initially expressed ignorance about the decision and later did not attend the swearing-in ceremony. There are indications that the merger will not take place on February 12. Following this, there is speculation that Sharad Pawar’s NCP might merge with the Congress sooner or later. 

If Rahul Gandhi succeeds in merging Sharad Pawar’s party with the Congress in Maharashtra, it could significantly alter the state’s political dynamics. The Congress is also seeking a leader in Maharashtra who can lead the party effectively. Even if Sharad Pawar does not engage in frontline politics due to health reasons, his endorsement could carry substantial weight. Pawar originally came from the Congress and, despite ups and downs, did not join the BJP. His decision in February or March will be crucial for the Congress. If Rahul Gandhi’s political strategy succeeds, the Congress will gain strength. 

However, all is not smooth within the Congress party. After Rahul’s new approach, his sister Priyanka Gandhi has been noticeably absent from party meetings. She has yet to hold any session of the Assam inquiry committee. Rahul Gandhi is currently focused on recharging party workers and state leaders, putting internal politics aside for now. 

By interacting with state leaders, he gathers information about the respective states, understands the situation, and then focuses on advancing the party’s campaigns and programs. Rahul has also accelerated the organizational-building campaign. He is directly engaging with newly appointed district presidents. Last week, he went to Ambala and held discussions with district presidents from Haryana. However, instead of giving a conventional speech, he demonstrated judo and karate moves to illustrate strategies to counter the BJP. 

The efforts Rahul is making send a clear message that he is changing his political approach.