Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and JMM president and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren
The Congress party is contesting elections to 30 assembly seats in Jharkhand state, but the Indian alliance may face a setback due to a weak campaign. The BJP camp also sees the Congress as the weak link in the Indian alliance. There is a reason for this. As of the first phase of the election, the two veteran leaders of the Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi and Malikajun Haq, held a total of 11 rallies. This is a clear indication that Congress is not putting in the effort it deserves in the campaign. Therefore, there is an atmosphere of fear that the Congress party, which is vying for 30 seats, may fail in forming the Hemant Soren government due to its flexible approach to the Indian alliance itself.
Considering the current situation of Congress in Jharkhand, the discussion is also about repeating the story of 2020 in Jharkhand. In 2020, Tejashwi Yadav missed the opportunity to form the government. The reason is that the number of seats allocated exceeds the political capacity of the Congress. Tejashvi was only twelve thousand votes behind, and the Congress, despite contesting more than fifty seats, was reduced to seventeen seats. The same fear also grips the Indian block of Jharkhand. As of the first phase, Rahul Gandhi has held seven meetings and Haq has held four. Despite five years in power, the low presence among tribes and the weakness of local workers remains a concern.
Priyanka’s absence heightens tensions
It is being said that a weak campaign by Congress could spell trouble for Hemant Soren. Congress had expected Priyanka Gandhi to campaign vigorously in Jharkhand, but Priyanka herself was the candidate from Wayanad. His absence, therefore, spells trouble not just for the Congress but for the entire Indian bloc. The meeting of Hemant and his wife Kalpana attracted huge crowds, but the lower attendance at the meeting of Congress candidates has raised concerns. A handful of Congress workers also appear to be relying on Hemant Soren, it is said. As a result, there is a huge shortage of the hard work that should be done by ground workers.
Manifesto released a day before first phase elections
The importance the Congress attaches to the Jharkhand elections can be seen from the declaration issued by the Congress a day before the first phase of the elections. The first phase of the election was held on May 13, and the Congress issued a manifesto on May 12, calling on the people to vote for the Congress. The BJP strongly objected to this, saying it violated the Model Code of Conduct and lodged a strong complaint with the Election Commission. In the first phase, whether the Congress will be able to convey its message to the public in the right way by issuing a manifesto a day before the election date for 38 seats is a question in itself.
Congress, which is contesting 17 seats in the first phase, in its manifesto, besides granting residence as per the provisions of Khatian 1932, also talked about implementing Sarna religious code. Not only that, in addition to providing 250 kilowatt hours of free electricity to the people of Jharkhand, the Congress party also claimed in its manifesto to conduct a caste census. Obviously, the Chairman of the Manifesto Committee, Bandu Tilki, should have made his own arguments on the manifesto, but releasing it a day before the first phase of elections clearly reflects a serious lack of coordination within the Congress.
Even at the organizational level, Congress appears to be very weak!
Congress took another major risk by replacing a state president just months before an election. The situation is that the state commissions have been dissolved but Congress has completely failed to form new ones. The people on the old committee are working hard for Congress. This is claimed but key leaders of Congress cannot answer how much hard work a leader and workers can do without accountability.
Overall, the defeat in Haryana and the Congress’s victory in Jammu and Kashmir, where it won only 6 out of 29 seats, tell the true story of the Congress party. Omar Abdullah lashes out at Congress after poor performance. Therefore, the removal of Rajesh Thakur a few months ago and handing over the responsibilities of the country’s president to Keshav Mahato did not find popular acceptance even within the Congress party.
Why did the statement of head Ghulam Ahmed Mir become a noose?
Jharkhand Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir’s remarks have become a sore point for the Congress party. Ghulam Mir promised to gift gas cylinders worth Rs 450 not only to local residents of Jharkhand but also to infiltrators. Obviously, Ghulam Ahmed’s remarks made it difficult for the entire Indian group to defend. Therefore, the central leadership of the Congress tried to save itself by quoting Ghulam Ahmed Mir’s personal statement. But once the words are spoken and the arrows are shot from the bow, they cannot be taken back. This is why Congress is facing embarrassment.
Jharkhand BJP chief Shivraj Singh Chauhan took this as a big issue and started firing words at Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Kharg arrow. Like the northeastern states, the BJP is also busy wooing tribals by raising the issue of infiltration in Jharkhand. In this context, the BJP is busy helping tribals in Santal Pargana and other districts by raising tribal Roti-Beti and Mati issues. In this case, in the middle of the campaign, the Congress chief talking about providing gas cylinders to infiltrators at cheap prices is like scoring a goal on his own goalpost.
What burden has the Congress placed on the Congress-JMM?
Congress seems to be becoming a burden on the JMM. It is obvious that in the past five years, the party has not become stronger even at the organizational level. Congressional staff also seem to avoid being as down to earth as big leaders. Hemant Soren is also in jail on corruption charges, but many political analysts believe that Hemant’s imprisonment could give him political strength.
Political analyst Shyam Kishore Choubey said Hemant and Kalpana Soren have become heroes in Jharkhand. But it is not difficult to see that Congress, as the constitutional party, will become a weak link due to its lack of organization and leadership. Apparently, Congress has not been able to find a solution, be it the allegation of recovery of Rs 300 million from Alamgir Alam or the recovery of Rs 350 million from Dheeraj Sahu’s house.
“I started to see it not as a companion but as a burden”
Over the past five years, intra-parliamentary ministerial battles appear to have further hollowed out Congress. This is why even though Champai quit the party and Hemant Soren seems to have succeeded in maintaining a strong hold on the tribals, there are whispers within the Indian bloc whether the Congress can reach double-digit figures. Due to strong leadership and poor organizational structure, Congress now looks less like an ally and more like a burden to the JMM. This is why many political analysts expect major disruptions in the Jharkhand election results due to Congress’ poor performance.
Political analyst Dr Sanjay Kumar said the Congress is contesting in 30 of the 81 seats and its campaign is below average. Hemant’s strength alone will make it difficult for the Congress to pass the BJP smoothly.
