Buoyed by the entry of Priyanka Gandhi in active politics, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has vowed to combat the political opponents on front foot. In cricket, a batsman plays on the front foot for two reasons - firstly to negate the swing and secondly to minimise the chances of getting out leg before wicket (LBW). Does the same logic apply in politics too? It can’t be as politics is a different ball game. In politics two plus two is not always equal to four. Politics has its own different arithmetic. So the imminent question is why Rahul indulged in such a gamble when the general election is knocking at the door? More importantly, will this gamble pay any dividends to the party?
Congressmen are confident that Priyanka’s entry in to politics will revitalise the grand old party. As a matter of fact, for years, those who have seen the Gandhi family from close quarters continued to murmur that Priyanka could be a better option to lead the party than Rahul. It was Sonia Gandhi who backed Rahul despite all his failures. As Sonia supported Rahul, the spineless Congress leaders feared to transform the murmur into a demand. But all these are things of the past. Since taking over as the Congress president nearly a year and a half ago, Rahul led the party in three Hindi heartland states. His acceptance as the leader is increasing. In such a situation what prompted the mother-son duo to induct Priyanka into active politics?
Firstly, Sonia is not keeping good health. Chances of her contesting the next general elections are very slim. With Priyanka’s entry to active politics, Congress gets a suitable alternative for Raibereli, Sonia’s constituency. As a matter of fact, it was Priyanka who for years was taking care of her mother’s constituency as Sonia was preoccupied with managing the party. Secondly, since the announcement of SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, it became clear that Congress will not get the support of dalits and minorities, who once used to vote en masse for the party. So the party has now decided to concentrate on upper caste votes, which in all certainty will go to BJP if Congress remains in its present state in UP. By targeting the upper caste vote in UP, Congress is trying to ensure BJP’s defeat without being bothered about its own tally. It should be mentioned here that in 2014 general elections, BJP got 71 seats from UP. Congress’ aim is to reduce BJP’s tally so that it didn’t have any chance to form the next government at the Centre. Third, all these years Priyanka remained behind the scene as she feared that her entry to active politics might put her husband behind bars as Rabert Vadra is being probed for a number of land deals. With the CBI’s reputation at its nadir and the vendetta politics of BJP is being opposed from almost every quarter, the Gandhis think it’s the right moment for Priyanka to take a plunge into active politics.
But all these calculations may be counterproductive too. Triangular contest in UP may benefit BJP. Similarly, two power centres within the party may not strengthen the Congress. Most importantly, if both Rahull and Piyanka fail to defeat BJP in the general elections, Congress will be devoid of any face in the coming days to reenergise the party. Surely, it is the only one biggest gamble by the Gandhis aimed to regain the Delhi throne.
