In a major jolt to the Congress’ plans of united opposition against the BJP, Samajwadi Party and the left have declared to go solo in the upcoming state assembly elections. Mayawati has already snubbed the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Last week, the BSP unilaterally declared the list of 22 candidates for the upcoming state assembly elections. The BSP supremo, Mayawati, also declared to contest upcoming Chhattisgarh state assembly elections in coalition with Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC-J). BSP supremo also made it very clear that if the government of the BSP- JCC comes to power then Ajit Jogi will be the Chief Minister candidate.
The pre-poll alliance between the BSP-JCC is seen as a major setback to the dreams of the Grand Old Party which had been trying to throw BJP out of power which has been ruling the state since last 15 years. In fact, former Congress leader and now the CM candidate of BSP-JCC alliance- Ajit Jogi-trying to turn the assembly elections into a triangular contest and any such contest is most likely to benefit the BJP as it will cut the votes of the Congress. In Chhattisgarh, even shift of 1% votes can change the equations drastically.
In Chhattisgarh, the BSP will contest on 35 seats and JCC will fight on remaining 55 seats. One of the reasons why BSP decided to go with JCC is perhaps the Congress party was not willing to give more than 5 seats to the BSP. In Madhya Pradesh also, the Congress was only willing to extend support on only 10 to 15 seats to the BSP. According to a New Indian Express report, the BSP also declared that it would go solo in Madhya Pradesh and contest on all 230 seats.
In Madhya Pradesh, Samajwadi Party is in talks with Gondwana Party. Left will also contest elections separately.
In Rajasthan, the Congress refused to form an alliance with the BSP, which goes on to show their dedication towards opposition unity. It’s just a glimpse of the selfish nature of Congress. They want the BSP only where it could be beneficial.
In Rajasthan- SP, Left front and JD (S)- are all set to form a third front.
#BREAKING — Congress' plan of a united oppn to challenge BJP in the 3 big states going to polls this year end has suffered a major setback, with SP, BSP & Left all electing to go solo. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/iPrSFV1UKN
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 24, 2018
#UPDATE — Setback for Congress: In MP, BSP is all set to go solo. SP in talks with Gondwana party, Left front to contest separately. In Rajasthan, Congress & BSP is all set to go solo. Left front, SP and JDS to form a third front. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/TFKY0iNc8z
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 24, 2018
In the UP too, the SP-BSP coalition strongly indicated that they may contest on 75 seats and remaining seats have been left for the other coalition partners. According to media reports, the INC will not be the part of the grand coalition against the BJP. Grand coalition would comprise of only the regional parties to challenge the BJP, this means that the Congress would not have any role to play in this grand coalition. It would be a huge embarrassment for the grand old party that they have been reduced to such a low. In Phulpur and Gorakhpur by polls, the INC received hardly 20,000 votes. The INC has become irrelevant in the UP and it is on its way to become irrelevant in other states as well but still it’s not willing to give up its ego and has refused to learn any lessons.
All these recent developments would only contribute in complicating Congress’ dream of a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ against the mighty BJP in 2019 general elections. The ego issues and self interests of each and every party are coming in the way of opposition unity. With SP and the left ditching Congress in state polls, the path for the BJP has become easier in 2019.
