To achieve some durable stature in Delhi Rahul Gandhi should hold one or two rallies in Delhi, and Sonia Gandhi should address at least one meeting.
New Delhi: The fate of the Congress party now hangs upon the outcome of Delhi elections. If the party wins, it would be a historic achievement. However, even if Congress doesn’t win, it is vital for its future that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) loses because if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins, it will still be a big relief to Congress, as it would preserve Congress’s stature in the opposition.
On the other hand, if AAP wins a fourth consecutive term with a majority in Delhi, party convenor Arvind Kejriwal will solidify his position as a key figure in the national politics. The constituent parties of the I.N.D.I. Alliance would not take long to rally behind him as a potential leader.
There might be a few deciding factors as to who might be the new leader from the north India. The opposition is set to gain a leader who will be North Indian, well-educated, fluent in Hindi, and, most importantly, deeply connected with the public. This leader, likely Arvind Kejriwal, with his image resonating as that of the common man, unlike Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, who have been in politics for over two decades, will have proven to have built a rapport with the Delhi people which the two Gandhi children have not been able to. If the Gandhi family understands the current situation, they must adjust their political moves.
Congress strategists can repeat their last tactic similar to 2013, where they won 7-8 seats while preventing other parties from securing a majority. This could serve as a lifeline, offering the party a fresh chance.
However, for this to happen, it would be wise for Rahul Gandhi to hold one or two rallies in Delhi, while Sonia Gandhi should address at least one meeting. Priyanka Gandhi should maintain a distance from the elections for now. If the Gandhi family keeps a low profile, it would benefit the party. The only effective face for Congress in Delhi would be former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. By reminding voters of her legacy through posters and banners across the city, Congress might manage to secure some seats. Therefore, the Gandhi family should rely on trusted old leaders, assign responsibility for specific seats, and focus their efforts on a limited but strategic number of seats to maximize their chances of success.
All the constituent parties of I.N.D.I. Alliance, RJD, SP, TMC, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar’s NCP are the real opponents of Congress. All of them have made their position in their respective states by opposing Congress. Till now the leaders of these parties definitely say that they will support the bloc at the national level, but there has been instances after Haryana and Maharashtra election loss that the said parties have broken their support for the weakening Congress.
After Delhi, there are elections in Bihar. After this, there are elections in major states every year till 2027. RJD is clear that only few seats will be given to Congress.
In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party will hardly keep Congress with it in the assembly polls to be held after two years. The recent developments concerning Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray are concerning for Congress, as both leaders may soon part ways from the alliance. There’s speculation that they might join the BJP for the sake of their children’s future. This has raised alarm among political circles, as many parties are questioning Congress’ strength in national politics.
Until now, Rahul Gandhi was the only leader seen as someone who could be influenced, but now Priyanka’s approach to politics is becoming a cause for concern. Experts argue that her style of politics, especially after becoming a Lok Sabha MP, may not be in the party’s best interest. In fact, it seems to be inadvertently strengthening the BJP’s narrative of nepotism.
Rahul and Priyanka need to understand that in the age of social media their every move will be scrutinized. Even their attire during the elections would be considered carefully.
Congress made its first major mistake in 2013 when Rahul Gandhi took charge of the party. By viewing the BJP as the biggest enemy, Rahul made the mistake of supporting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for 50 days, which has had lasting consequences. Kejriwal capitalised on that support and, as Chief Minister, made announcements that helped him win future elections and grow in power.
The second mistake occurred during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the Gandhi family supported Kejriwal, who was weak due to his involvement in Delhi excise policy case. This gave AAP a boost. By supporting Kejriwal and making Mayawati a leader in Uttar Pradesh, Congress took a major risk. Now, if Kejriwal wins in Delhi, he will target Congress to weaken its influence further, as he has already done in Punjab.
Kejriwal’s 12-year-old party has brought the 140-year-old Congress party to a position where it is running it according to its own wishes and setting the agenda of the opposition. If ambitious Kejriwal understands the situation he would grab any chance in those states where currently only Congress and BJP are in direct competition. There are many states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat where currently there are only two parties, Congress and BJP. In these states, the constituent parties of the I.N.D.I. Alliance will fully help AAP.