The Congress party in its pursuit to stop the BJP from coming to power is now willing to support any non- RSS backed candidate from the opposition as Prime Minister in 2019. According to an Economic Times report, a Congress functionary said, “Congress would be willing to accept any candidate from an Opposition party. We are comfortable seeing any Prime Minister other than an RSS backed one.”
This statement surprised everyone because just a few days ago, Congress Working Committee (CWC) announced that Rahul Gandhi will be its prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Probably, the Congress has realized the hollowness of its dream of projecting Rahul Gandhi as a prime ministerial candidate to take on BJP. During the CWC meeting, senior Congress leader P.Chidambaram observed that the party does not even have a presence in 200 parliamentary seats. In crucial states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, the Congress hardly have any heft at the ground level and is at the mercy of regional political parties. P. Chidambaram also said that the party has chances of winning three times more seats in 2019, this would take party’s tally to 144.
To take on the BJP in the upcoming General elections, the INC is looking to stitch up an alliance with the regional leaders. But the other regional leaders are in no mood to play second fiddle to Rahul Gandhi. Desires of regional leaders to occupy the post of the prime minister are not hidden from anyone. Mamata Banerjee has already made it very clear that she is not ready to work under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. In the past, Mamata Banerjee along with KCR had pitched the idea of a federal front to take on the BJP, without the Congress. The fact that Mamata Banerjee has strong ambitions to become Prime Minister is not hidden from anyone. On Saturday, she announced, “We will continue our political fight against BJP, Congress and CPI (M). But our developmental programs will continue. Pledge to win the country and drive BJP out. Pledge to win all 42 seats in Bengal.”
BSP supremo Mayawati has her own ambitions for the top job and is in no mood to compromise with the Congress. She said, “The BSP wants to tell INC leaders giving reactions about an alliance with BSP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, that the same condition applies to Congress as well.”
Because of Rahul Gandhi’s weak leadership and lack of organizational skills, no one is giving any importance to the Congress party. Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the party has suffered a great debacle and it has lost its clout. Regional parties are not willing to ally with the INC because it would not add anything catalyst to their electoral strength. Everyone is trying to avoid a weak Congress party led by an equally weak and vision-less leader. JD(S) is the only party which came out in support of the Congress party but with full of doubts. Even parties like SP, RJD, NCP and DMK doesn’t have any admiration for Rahul Gandhi.
During the no-confidence motion speech, PM Modi spoke in great length about the perfidious behavior of the INC towards its regional allies and coalition partners. In his speech the PM painted whole Congress party as unfaithful, and unprincipled.
This sudden change in INC’s attitude also shows that the party itself does not have full confidence in Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. It also shows the volume of opposition’s grasp on ground reality and its preparedness for 2019 Parliamentary elections.
