It is unclear whether Priyanka Gandhi will stand for the Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli or not. She did not give any directions to her close associates when they called on her recently, asking if they should begin campaigning. Significantly, Priyanka did not join her brother at the start of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in UP, as originally planned. A press note explained that she was in hospital for dehydration and nausea. But just two days earlier, she had accompanied her mother when she filed her nomination for a Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan. Some speculate that Priyanka does not want to be associated with a third straight decisive Congress defeat in 2024.
Meanwhile, disillusionment in the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s “erratic style” of functioning and increasing dependence on K C Venugopal grows, particularly after the Congress Rajya Sabha selections. If a veteran like Kamal Nath does not hide his discontent, it is because Rahul was openly insulting after the Madhya Pradesh defeat, even observing that some reports suggested that Nath had actually helped the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. A furious Nath retorted that if he was soft on the BJP for losing one election, Rahul should be considered a key BJP aide as, under his leadership, dozens of elections have been lost. Ashok Chavan joined the BJP after four months of trying to get an appointment with Rahul, only to get a curt text message, “Talk to KC”.
A senior Punjab leader, who demurred at standing for Lok Sabha elections on the plea that he had a pivotal role in assembly politics, was accused of being either a coward or in league with the BJP or AAP. At the start of his UP yatra, Rahul, in full public view, jocularly remarked to a senior state party functionary, who was formerly in the BJP, that he hoped his BJP component had disappeared. Disenchanted Congressperson feel their leader’s worst trait is relying excessively on self-serving advisors. While PCC presidents and Congress Legislature Party leaders of MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were removed after the electoral defeat, the general secretaries in charge of the states were not touched. But Rahul’s mother continues to repose complete faith in his leadership skills.
A common question in Odisha’s political circles is, “After Naveen Patnaik, who?’’ The Chief Minister, who has been in office since 2000, is 77 and in frail health. While his trusted former private secretary V K Pandian has resigned from the IAS and joined politics, he can hardly be expected to lead the party as he is Tamilian, while the proud slogan of the BJD is ‘Odisha for Odias’. Two potential candidates are Patnaik’s nephews, Arun Patnaik, the son of the CM’s businessman brother Prem, and Aditya Singh Mehta, the son of Patnaik’s late sister, celebrated author Gita Mehta. Neither of his kin speak Odia or have lived in the state, but that was the case with Naveen too before his surprise entry into politics. The CM is reportedly agreeable to promote his nephews, provided they are willing to put in the time and effort to work in the state.
The BJP took complete charge before the confidence vote in the Bihar Assembly to ensure that Nitish Kumar won with the backing of the NDA. Nitish practically disappeared during the crisis operation, though the difference between the NDA and RJD-Congress alliance boiled down to just three to four MLAs. A night before the trust vote, a meeting was arranged with a few RJD MLAs considered potential defectors, but Nitish did not show up. When he was asked to speak personally to half a dozen wavering JD(U) MLAs, instead of adopting a conciliatory tone, he took an aggressive tone suggesting that if they wanted to leave the party, they could. If three RJD MLAs switched to Nitish’s side during the vote, it was due to the efforts of the BJP.
Supriya Sule may receive parliamentarian of the year awards for her oratory and liberal views, but politics is won at the grass roots and not by media polls, says cousin Ajit Pawar, who believes he has the upper hand in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency. Ajit has nursed the constituency assiduously and controls its cooperatives. Supriya confines herself largely to elite circles in Delhi and Mumbai.
Although he has swallowed up his uncle Sharad Pawar’s NCP, Ajit is reportedly reluctant to field his wife Sunetra against Supriya. That would lead to a total split in the close-knit Pawar clan. But the BJP is insistent that Ajit nominate a family member against Supriya. Most Pawars have either distanced themselves from the politics or aligned with the patriarch. The only other option is Ajit’s youngest son Parth, who lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election and does not want to contest from a risky constituency.
login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Andrew Mitrovica
Mort Laitner
Nikkei Editorial
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Rami G Khouri
visit website
