INDIA Bloc Stares at Fast-paced Implosion After Delhi Polls

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Delhi Elections May Give Verdict on Congress-led Opposition Unity

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, January 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders seem pleased with efforts of the Congress to revive the party in the national capital. The Congress is so far sticking to party leader Ajay Maken’s aggressive posturing against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The Congress list of candidates so far is being seen tactical against the AAP in certain pockets. The Congress is seeking to rediscover party base among Muslims, Dalit, and Purvanchalis with representation to candidates.

The AAP is also sensing a threat from the Congress. The main Opposition party is seeking to gain Muslim votes. “|The AAP’s Hindutva card in recent months with ‘Sundar Kand Path’ in temples, and temple-hopping spree of the party leaders has opened the Muslim votes in Delhi for grabs for the Congress,” said a BJP leader.

Punjab Congress Leaders to Campaign Against AAP in Delhi

Muslims in Delhi constitute roughly 14 per cent of the total electorate. But the minority vote base is largely concentrated in about 15-20 Assembly seats. Delhi has a total of 70 Assembly seats.

The AAP is most likely to exit the Congress-led INDIA bloc after the Delhi polls. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is learnt to be anguished at the Congress bid to hurt the AAP vote base. The Congress also has invited the Punjab leaders to amplify the AAP not fulfilling poll promise of transferring ₹1000 to bank accounts of women for past three years.

“Sharad Pawar will also exit the INDIA bloc after the Delhi elections. His Rajya Sabha tenure ends next year. He needs support of his nephew Ajit Pawar to return to the Rajya Sabha,” said a senior BJP functionary from Maharashtra.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is showing least interest in the INDIA block. The Congress extended working committee meeting resolution to devote full energy on revival of the party is learnt to have alarmed the Trinamool Congress (TMC). A Kejriwal-Banerjee bonding is also becoming apparent for a non-Congress Opposition bloc.

BJP War Room in Delhi Works to Plug Vote Leakages

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is also warming up to the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna has gone soft on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “The BJP will not admit the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in the NDA for obvious state political reasons,” added the BJP leader.

After the Delhi Assembly elections, political pundits opine a fast-paced exit from the INDIA bloc. An AAP victory despite the Congress efforts in Delhi may egg on Kejriwal to take lead to form a non-Congress grouping. An AAP defeat in Delhi may also not help the Congress-led Opposition group to retain the current shape, argue political pundits.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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