The political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh shows no signs of abating. The senior leadership of the Congress party cannot gloss over the issues of disgruntled MLAs (members of Legislative Assembly) within the party. Merely deflecting responsibility by attributing challenges to the BJP’s alleged attempts at orchestrating defections through ‘Operation Lotus’ is insufficient. None would subscribe to its allegations that the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is weaponising investigation agencies to intimidate Congress leaders in order to turn them saboteur and join BJP fold.
A chronological analysis of ‘Operation Lotus’ events since 2014, would reveal that the Congress never had watertight plans for states; consequently, the party itself has become susceptible to warrant crisis like that occurred in Himachal Pradesh. Be it Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Assam, Rajasthan or any other state, the party high command had no templates for state leaders so that they can settle their issues and become democratic to reach a consensus on fixing internal disturbance. The party high command has never tried to lower the bar for party workers and senior leaders to come forward and resolve issues through dialogue.
Following tips from other leaders, the entire Gandhi family distanced itself from the former senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia when news was in air that one-year old Congress government in Madhya Pradesh was in crisis. Had the Gandhis initiated a dialogue with Scindia, a crash could have been averted and the Congress would have been in a better position in Madhya Pradesh today. If the party had fixed simmering infighting between its first-born Ashok Gehlot and his bête-noire Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan three years ago, the party might not be in such sordid condition there.
Had the chieftain, Ashok Gehlot been allowed to become the party’s national president, who knows, Operation Lotus might have been faded into oblivion by now. The BJP successfully launched its Operation Lotus in Himachal Pradesh soon after it got the wind that things are not going well within the state Congress unit. A section of local media also had come up with stories that something was brewing up within the Congress in the Himachal Pradesh.
Yet, the Gandhi family could not correct its progressive myopic vision to pacify the deeply disturbed Pratibha Singh — the erstwhile royal family member and her supporters. Instead of keeping party’s door ajar for all, the Gandhis not only accede to what Pratibha and her followers wanted but also maintained an opaque gesture at them. The BJP, already had sensed favourable winds at the time of nomination for Rajya Sabha elections.
Even, a section of media had raised the issues of Congress party, but the Congress high command turned a Nelson’s eye at the inevitable situation. The other side of the story is that the Congress has made no efforts to reinforce party’s organisational structure, even the party high command did not spare time for bull sessions with party workers and leaders. Much to the chagrin of many, the Karnataka and Telangana units of Congress too have developed factions.
The situation in Haryana, which is just a stone-throw away from party high command’s residence in New Delhi, is equally grim. All the influential leaders have formed their own groups. As the high-octane general elections approach, each group will display its valour and the BJP bigwigs; like any smart anglers, will be ready to catch the reward. It makes anyone guess the Lok Sabha elections results and their positive outcome in favour of the ruling BJP, particularly when the Congress is reeling under internal rumblings and high-profile exits after a series of electoral debacles.
As elections draw nearer, the BJP has adopted ‘all are welcome’ strategy. All states; Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and even West Bengal are at its target. It means any leaders of any party can come to the BJP fold. In Rajasthan recently, after tribal leader Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya turned defector to join BJP camp, the Congress successfully restricted others to follow him.
Yet, there are very few people who have been given the responsibility of disciplinary committee to a leader like Udaylal Anjana. But if the sources are to be believed, most of the former ministers, former MLAs, present MLAs and leaders who are under the scanner of prime investigating agencies or who feel that Rahul Gandhi will remain final arbiter in their political matters, may are likely to quit the party in search of greener pasture.
In Madhya Pradesh, former chief minister Kamal Nath is with the Congress as of now. But speculations have accentuated the rumours that others are vulnerable to join the BJP in future, primarily owing to their ambitions to chart a political course outside the weakening Congress. However, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot says it is better that whosoever has to leave should leave the party quickly. The fresher will get a chance to come forward.
Even though Congress is not giving importance to defection, it is not understanding that it is affecting the morale of the workers. The BJP will not get any significant benefit from Congress defectors in the Lok Sabha elections because the party foresee no challenge in the Hindi heartland owing to charismatic profile of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ram temple wave on which the BJP is likely to ride to sail through elections comfortably. But even then, the efforts made by BJP strategists indicate the party wants to do away with the entire Opposition in the forthcoming elections.
In Himachal Pradesh, whatever happened was already planned and decided. But Congress itself remained unaware. Pratibha Singh and her loyalists were peevishly discontented and the party high command could not overcome the teething problems since the new government of Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was formed. The group of Pratibha Singh, wife of Virbhadra Singh might have felt wounded when staunch opponent of her husband Sukhu was picked up as chief minister. Even, when Pratibha wanted to resent, she was denied access to the residence of the Gandhis in Delhi.
For some time, the crisis seems averted as Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D Shivkumar reached Shimla and defused the crisis. Yet, Pratibha Singh and her loyalists are not ready to die down as a result the crisis persists. The Himachal Pradesh crisis has also raised alarm bells for Karnataka and Telangana. In Karnataka, the high command has assured Deputy Chief Minister D Shivakumar of taking over Chief Ministership from the sitting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah but he is not going to give up easily.