Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat: Hype and symbolism notwithstanding, Congress faces tough challenges
As Congress vice-President Rahul Gandhi embarks on a three-day yatra across Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah's home state ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls, here's a look at the challenges the Grand Old Party faces.
In Short
- Rahul Gandhi's Gujarat campaign appears to be high on symbolisms and hype
- The aim seems to be countering PM Modi's, Amit Shah's influence
- The Congress VP began his 3-day yatra today
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today launched the party's campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. The Nehru-Gandhi scion descended on the religious city of Dwarka as part of the three-day visit to the poll-bound state.
Rahul Gandhi's Gujarat campaign seems to be high on symbolisms and hype just as it was in the run up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The aim seems to be countering the influence of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, who belong to the state.
TEMPLE VISITS
Before embarking on the three-day yatra today, Rahul Gandhi sought the blessings of Lord Krishna at Dwarkadhish Temple. Ever since the 2002 Godhra and Ahmedabad riots, the state has got deeply polarised on communal lines.
Riding on the roused passions, the BJP was a beneficiary of this communal divide. It won not just the Assembly elections held later that year but also the ones held in 2007 and 2012.
Rahul Gandhi seems to be wooing the Hindu votes by launching his yatra by visiting the ancient temple in Dwarka.
Began the three day Navsarjan Yatra in Gujarat with darshan at Dwarkadhish Temple pic.twitter.com/PkFz0s3Z7v- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 25, 2017
Just as in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi had launched the UP poll campaign on September 6 last year by visiting Dugdheshwarnath temple in Deoria and getting his forehead smeared with 'tilak'. He had even visited Ayodhya on the fourth day of his yatra and sought blessings in Hanumangarhi temple.
In Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi's aim seems to be wooing Hindus in general while in UP he had Brahmins in mind.
FARMERS
The Congress vice-president launched the 'Youth employment and farmers' right rejuvenation yatra' today. The yatra obviously targets the farmers besides the youth.
Rahul Gandhi is visiting Gujarat's agrarian Saurashtra region which is dominated by Patels and Patidars. Saurashtra returns 58 MLAs in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. The Patidars have been traditional supporters of the BJP.
However, a section of the Patidars has parted ways with the BJP ever since last Hardik Patel launched the agitation last year for reservation to the community in government jobs and educational institution under the OBC category.
In UP too, Rahul Gandhi had launched the Kisan Yatra in Deoria about a year ago. Rahul Gandhi's pitch was loan waivers and other sops for farmers.
BULLOCK CART AND KHAAT SABHA
In view of the attack on Rahul Gandhi's carcade during his previous visit to the state, the Gujarat Police refused permission to him for an open-jeep roadshow. The Congress leader covered a small stretch of the trip in a traditionally decked up bullock cart.
Rahul Gandhi entered Hanjrapar in Jamnagar from Dwarka in a decked up bullock cart. In UP, Rahul Gandhi had organised 'khaat sabha' (meetings on wooden cots) which had tuned a fiasco with the villagers running away with the four-legged charpoys.
CHALLENGES BEFORE RAHUL
Despite the symbolisms in UP, the Congress had come a poor fifth winning just seven of the 403 Assembly seats.
The Congress may not perform as bad in Gujarat as it did in UP but the political atmosphere in the poll-bound state is not quite conducive to the party either. It is beset with several organisational issues.
The party suffers from a leadership crisis. After the exit of Shankersinh Vaghela, the Congress has yet to find a leader who can lead the party to victory.
Vaghela not just quit alone but was instrumental in the exit of 13 other Congress MLAs, 10 of whom joined the ruling BJP. This has dealt a severe blow to the principal opposition party in the state.
The Congress perhaps faces the toughest challenge from the contest becoming a multi-cornered one. Vaghelas 'Jan Vilap' (Peoples Alternative) front, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Sharad Pawar-headed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have also decided to jump into the fray.
All these three parties may split the Congress votes. This would only benefit the BJP.
Despite the hype and symbolisms, Rahul Gandhi's foray in Gujarat seems to be fraught with challenges. The excitement in the Congress circles may not yield any fruit if the party fails to meet them.
VIDEO: For whom will young Indians vote for in 2019, Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi? Watch this debate, from India Today's youth festival MindRocks 2017.