Congress lacks a strong leader in UP
The appointment of controversial BJP general secretary and right hand man of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi — Amit Shah — as in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, could speed up the process of political polarisation in the state.
While the Samajwadi Party and the BSP have strong leaders like Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ms Mayawati, Mr Shah’s appointment has sent out a strong message to the people that it is not Mr Shah but Mr Modi who will fight the electoral battle from the front. He is seen as the Gujarat CM’s pointsman. Mr Modi could contest the Lok Sabha elections from the state which had seen Mandal and Kamandal agitations in 90s.
The appointment would enthuse the BJP cadre.
Among the major political parties, the Congress is perhaps the only party which has been lacking a strong leader with a mass appeal in the state.
The party has yet to decide which card it should play in this state. It is relying on leaders like Beni Prasad Verma, Salman Khurshid, P.L. Punia, Sri Prakash Jaiswal and others.
While the BSP will play the dalit card, the SP has been working on the consolidation of Mulslim-Yadavs. But both the parties are trying to keep the brahmins in good humour after realising that they cannot come to power merely on backward castes votes. Mr Shah’s appointment could consolidate upper castes.
The Congress will play the governance card with a calculation that the BJP’s hardline face could compel the minorities to vote for the Congress.
If the insider sources are to be believed, many sitting MPs of the Congress from UP may lose this time. Some MPs are in search of a safe seat,they said.
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