There was no enthusiasm within the party this time, nor was a large section of the party in favour of the Yatra.
Today’s rally, marking the conclusion of former Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, will also assess the current situation of the I.N.D.I.A alliance. This is because when the journey began sixteen months ago, the shape of the I.N.D.I alliance was different, but as the journey progressed, the alliance kept disintegrating.
The Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, who initiated the I.N.D.I alliance, has rejoined forces with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has distanced herself from the alliance. Interestingly, the left parties, with whom Rahul Gandhi is politically aligned, are contesting against him in Kerala. In Bengal, the leftist parties have marginalized the Congress by fielding candidates on all seats. Now, Congress is supported by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra and by Lalu Yadav in Bihar.
In Delhi, the Congress is placing its trust in Arvind Kejriwal, despite his role in tarnishing the party’s image in the past. Kejriwal’s party is forming an alliance with the Congress in Delhi. Meanwhile, in Punjab, both Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann are targeting the Congress.
Is Rahul Gandhi responsible for this situation, or is there a debate within his team? Even regarding the Nyay Yatra, there was no enthusiasm within the party this time, nor was a large section of the party in favour of the Yatra. The journey proceeded due to the insistence of a few individuals, and now it is being considered completely unsuccessful. Priyanka Gandhi also joined the yatra for two days out of compulsion. Whereas in the previous Bharat Jodo Yatra, the entire party, including Priyanka, participated enthusiastically.
The previous Bharat Jodo Yatra had significantly transformed Rahul’s image. However, this time, the Nyay Yatra did not yield any noticeable benefits for Rahul’s image. Questions were raised within the party about the rationale behind embarking on this poorly timed journey. The setbacks in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh had a demoralizing effect on the Congress. Additionally, the journey was also marked by intermittent detours.
Prior to concluding the journey in Mumbai, the Congress has intensified its stance on the issue of electoral bonds. It appears that the Congress intends to prioritize the electoral bond issue in the forthcoming elections. However, the effectiveness of this issue as a campaign focal point following the announcement of general elections remains uncertain.
However, firstly, the success of this Congress rally in Maharashtra will be closely watched. Secondly, it will be important to note how many leaders of the constituent parties of the remaining I.N.D.I alliance participate in it. According to the party’s General Secretary, K. C. Venugopal, the party has invited all its allies to the rally. The indications suggest that the closest allies of Congress, the leaders of the leftist parties, may keep a distance from the rally.
Whether Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray also come to the rally or send their representatives will be significant. As per the sources, both leaders might maintain a distance.
There are low expectations from the Aam Aadmi Party, too. The hopes are pinned on leaders like DMK Chief Stalin, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Along with making the rally successful for Congress, the biggest challenge is also to send a message of unity within the I.N.D.I alliance.
After Kerala, Maharashtra is the next state where the party holds high expectations. The departure of senior leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has unsettled the party. There is also dissatisfaction among Maharashtra Congress leaders over the way Uddhav Thackeray’s party has been handling the seat-sharing arrangement. Against this backdrop, an upcoming rally on March 17 is poised to convey significant messages.