Is Sonia’s early Raebareli visit an attempt to prevent emergence of another Irani?
Is Sonia’s early Raebareli visit an attempt to prevent emergence of another Irani?
Lucknow,June 12(HS) Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi came to her Raebareli constituency on Wednesday in less a than a month from announcement of results of general elections.She was accompanied by her daughter and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Neither is the visit unexpected nor sudden.It was very much expected by knowledgeable persons in the party and outside.The reason, to them, is Amethi result.Her son and party president Rahul Gandhi was defeated in the constituency which was a Gandhi bastion and has elected members of the family for decades.
“You cannot expect her to do a Rahul or create another Smriti Irani.She was expected to come as early as possible and she has done it.There is no surprise element in it”, said a Gandhi family fan.Officially, she has come to thank voters and review the party performance in recently held general elections.
It is a fact that Rahul lost because he did not pay much attention to his Amethi constituency and had taken the victory for granted. Srimiti Irani who had faced him on behalf of the BJP in the 2014 elections saw an opportunity in it to put him on the mat.
Not only did she visit the constituency more often but got certain long-pending works completed.All this made her expand her support base.Luckily (luckily for him),Rahul,at long last saw a threat and shifted to Kerala.Had he not he would have been away from the Lok Sabha.
She was drawing large crowds and the number of supporters had swelled after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a meeting.He inaugurated or laid foundation of several schemes.The BJP,clearly,had made a plan in advance and implemented it carefully.
Rahul did not see it coming then.He saw the danger much later and,therefore,decidedto fight from another constituency only when a few days were left for filing of nomination papers.This constituency dominated by Muslims had overwhelmingly voted for the Congress in last two elections and was safer than others.The gamble paid.
Raebareli may become another Amethi if it is neglected the same way.Sonia’s decision to visit it early is considered as a wise decision in this light.
Priyanka might have accompanied her because of two reasons.She was incharge of this part of the state in the pto keep in touch if she wanted to do better in future elections.
Second,there was a rumour before the elections that Sonia would leave Raebareli seat for Priyanka to contest.She has herself contested from the seat this year but she may opt out in 2024.
This visit and others in future may be helpful to her in this regard.The family has lost one traditional seat.It would not like to lose another (Raebareli).It is good for the grooming purpose as well.
Priyanka had declared during the campaigning that she was preparing for these elections ( which have been held) and 2022 state Assembly elections.She has to do a lot more to regain the lost ground and give a tough fight to the ruling BJP.
The BJP’s popularity graph has shown an upward swing.There has been increase in vote-percentage from 2014.It has touched 50 per cent ( 49.6 to be exact).To unseat it,therefore, will be an uphill task for the grand old party.
