BJP’s outreach move ahead of Madarihat bypolls
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up for a 'public outreach' campaign in the Madarihat Assembly segment, as it seeks to retain the seat in an upcoming by-election.
SIR, Apropos Yatra signals a changed political narrative by Kalyani Shankar (January 1), no such changes are visible on the ground. The recent state and other election results point to the continued, strong support for the BJP.
On its own, the Congress cannot pose a challenge to the BJP. A unified opposition, under the leadership of the Congress, is still a distant dream. In the absence of a viable, alternate vision, even such an opposition cannot convince the electorate to dethrone the BJP government.
A mere single point agenda of BJP hatao will cut no ice with the voters. Rahul hugging elderly women and tying his moms shoe laces may make for good optics, but not credible politics.
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His toned down language when criticising the government may be indicative of his growing maturity. One reason for the ignominious defeat of the Congress in 2019 was his insensitive slogan Chowkidar Chor Hai.
One cannot hope to garner votes by heaping such obnoxious abuse on a scrupulously honest leader. People would like to know what alternative the Congress is promising. Will it be an encore of the decade long UPA dispensation from 2004-2014, when the PM was a dummy and the people witnessed a procession of scams, culminating in the 2G Spectrum Scandal?
Or, will it be an improvement on the promise of Rs 12,000 per month to every poor family in India, with inflation adjusted? But before that, can the opposition even present a unified face to the electorate? If elected, how many Joint Captains, or Vice Captains would the ministry have and on what terms and conditions?
Rahul’s claim that the Yatra is not for political or personal interests, but is against the politics of hate, fear and violence sounds great on paper, but it is easy to see through its real purpose ~ namely, removal of Modi and the BJP from power and the re-establishment of the UPAs regime of corruption, nepotism and family rule.
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