It’s advantage BJP, again

With the election schedule announced for Himachal Pradesh Assembly and with the decision of the Election Commission to hold Gujarat elections in time for a simultaneous counting, it is adrenaline time once again among the politicians. More interesting these elections would be because the Congress prince is all set to be crowned the king soon –much before the elections and the results will be weighed carefully.

Though Rahul's job will be safe as the president of the Grand Old Party, it would certainly test his debut. Not all is well in the Congress, with the seniors, despite the claims of the party leadership and spokespersons, still being unsure of their position and fate. Whether they will be retained and respected or consigned to scrap heap is their biggest worry. This is bound to impact the elections in the two States.

If the Congress puts up a good show in Gujarat by winning, it would be projected as Rahul's mojo and if he loses, naturally, the blame would be taken by the local leaders as per the Congress game rules. The party does not have any hopes in Himachal Pradesh with rampant infighting and anti-incumbency dominating the discourse.

BJP, on the other hand, is still sitting pretty despite the 'image makeover' of Rahul Gandhi or whatever it means. The Modi-Shah duo is not unduly worried in this regard, too. Perhaps, nobody knows the internal dynamics of the party more than these two in the present days. The two have designed and destined the State to its present trajectory with hard work of over nearly three decades.

That is why the party does not seem to be worried too much about the Patidar agitation. It would be interesting to watch how the BJP handles the Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel. The sedition case against him has already been withdrawn, sending uncomfortable signals to the Congress which has been planning to bank on the sentiment for trouncing the BJP from power. But, the Modi-Shah combine has already deftly played its cards.

The whole plan of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections was to demoralise the Congress by attacking Ahmed Patel relentlessly and they fully succeeded in the game. The Congress today lies in tatters in the State after the exit of its powerful leader, Shankersinh Vaghela, dealing it a deadly blow. The sudden move by Vaghela has the potential to alter the political equations in the State, where he is likely to pitch himself as a third alternative.

Speculation is rife over the same, but the BJP seems to be in a better position than the Congress. After the exit of Amit Shah and Modi from the Gujarat scene, the BJP is bereft of a leader of mass appeal but the voters don't mind this much as the State continues to be under their benign gaze. Modi has already begun a course correction as far as the economy is concerned to ward off criticism of demonetisation and GST moves. The same cannot be said about the Congress anyway. It is advantage BJP here too!