Rahul Gandhi missing in action ahead of crucial Uttar Pradesh, Punjab elections. Does he not care?
Ever since Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi left the country at the fag end of December 2016, important decisions in the party have been held up.
In Short
- After Rahul left, important decisions have been held up.
- Congress supporters have been left to guess the date of his return.
- Elections in UP would be held from February 11 to March 8.
At a time when the major political parties are in full swing making preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections in five states, matters have surely slowed down - if not have come down to a grinding halt - for Congress.
Ever since Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi left the country at the fag end of December 2016, important decisions in the party have been held up.
On December 31, Rahul posted a tweet saying he would be travelling for the next few days.
I will be traveling for the next few days.Happy New Year to everyone,wishing you and your loved ones success & happiness in this coming year Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) 31 December 2016
However, without any clear-cut information, Congress supporters and others have been left to guess the places he would visit - whether in or outside the country - and the date of return. Everything is shrouded in mystery as in all his previous visits abroad.Besides leading to confusion, several decisions of Congress hang fire.
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1. DELAYED LIST OF PUNJAB
Punjab and Goa are the first of the five states to go to polls. Assembly elections in these states are scheduled to be held on February 4. However, Congress is yet to release names of candidates for 40 of the 117 seats in Punjab.
The party has issued two lists of candidates so far - the second one on December 30, a day before Rahul went on holidays. Names of 61 candidates were in the first list released on December 15 and of 16 candidates in the second list. But the release of third list awaits Rahul's return. The delay in fielding candidates would surely affect the chances of their success in the elections. The later they get the ticket, lesser the time they would get to make preparations.
2. ALLIANCE WITH AKHILESH YADAV
On several occasions, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has expressed keenness to align with Congress for the Assembly elections. The Election Commission announced the dates for the Assembly elections on January 4. Elections in UP would be held in seven phases - from February 11 to March 8.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi's tour delays Congress Punjab list
With just a month left for elections in the most populous state in the country, it is time Samajwadi Party and Congress sealed the pre-poll alliance. Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh is also likely to join the alliance.
Rahul and Akhilesh are supposed to hold negotiations before the seat-sharing arrangement is announced. However, with the Congress vice-president out for the past 10 days, crucial time has been lost in sealing a deal.
3. NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU'S ENTRY
All decks are almost clear for former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu's entry into Congress. The party is awaiting Rahul's return from his foreign sojourn before it make the crucial announcement. It was revealed by none other than Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu who recently joined Congress. According to her, Rahul was supposed to return to the country on January 7. But that deadline has passed.
Rahulji ne aaj wapas ana tha,Rahul ji&Capt Amarinderji jo bhi role decide karenge woh usmein aayenge-Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Navjot Singh Sidhu pic.twitter.com/9Udapl3vLk ANI (@ANI_news) 7 January 2017
CONGRESS' DEFENCE
Speaking to Indiatoday.in, Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal defended Rahul and said the party's vice-president had all rights to go on holiday to take rest. "It does not in any way suggest that he (Rahul) is a non-serious politician. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi goes abroad to take rest," he said.Asked about the shroud of secrecy around Rahul's visit, Afzal said every individual has a right to privacy. However, he added, no party work was getting hampered due to the leader's absence. "Party works have been assigned to people and teams. All are busy in accomplishing the tasks.
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COUNTER TO PM MODI'S DEMONETISATION ADDRESS
Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation on the New Year's Eve on demonetisation. One expected Rahul to counter him. However, Rahul did not even post a tweet to express his opinion on the PM's significant address. It was left to spokespersons and other leaders to issue statements arguing against Modi's stand on demonetisation.
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