The Hindu : Cong. fears saffron upsurge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2002

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Cong. fears saffron upsurge

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI DEC. 16. The sweeping electoral victory of the BJP in Gujarat and the reported threat by Vishwa Hindu Parishad to head for Delhi has the Capital's Congressmen worried. Fear is being expressed that the "Hindutva wave" could well hit the party's fortunes in Delhi and a definite strategy needs to be put in place to counter this emerging saffron challenge.

In fact, the manner in which the party's campaign was run in Gujarat has already evoked criticism here and the role of the AICC general secretary, Kamal Nath, who is also in charge of the party's Delhi affairs has come under scrutiny. The defeat has clearly outlined the need for a well oiled party machinery to be put in place in Delhi to meet the emerging challenge in the Assembly elections in Delhi scheduled for November next year. In fact, the ruling Congress would have to do a lot more and the party set-up will have to hit the road right now highlighting the achievements of the Congress Government in the State rather than adopting a laid-back attitude, according to Congress sources.

``There is no time for personality clash politics in Delhi. Both the Congress Government and party, who are presently working in the opposite direction, would have to join hands to take on this new challenge. Mr. Nath would have to play a crucial role in the whole scenario. Instead of taking pot shots at his own Government, he should concentrate on tackling a resurgent BJP. It would do the party a lot good if Mr. Nath takes along the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and distances himself from controversial leaders who are suspects in the eyes of a particular minority community in Delhi,'' remarked a senior DPCC leader.

In fact, political observers point out the resounding Congress victory in the MCD polls had more to do with the anti-BJP sentiment than the strategy of the Congress party or its campaign managers. The victory had projected Mr. Nath as the demolition man for the BJP and somebody who was the best remedy for tackling the saffron surge. But the following months proved that all was not well with the election process adopted for the MCD. The list of tainted Congress Councillors has risen steadily giving an impression that no proper scrutiny was done or thought was given before allotting tickets which included even some criminals.

Many partymen feel the mistakes committed during the MCD elections cannot be repeated anymore and criminal elements would have to be kept out. "An impression has gone down the party ranks that Mr. Nath does not get along well with Ms. Dikshit and is appeasing all those elements who are opposed to her. There has also been a bid by the party general secretary to sideline Ms. Dikshit at the instance of certain dubious Delhi leaders who have surrounded him. It would be better if the general secretary blends the party and government into one entity and takes on the BJP and its saffron bnrigade collectively or face the risk of another defeat,'' a senior Minister remarked.

Partymen feel that if the BJP is able to garner the support of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, in Delhi and also set the saffron bandwagon rolling, the Congress could have a tough situation on its hand.

Though, local issues and development are the major factors on which elections are fought, but one cannot overlook the power of the Sangh Parivar machinery and its ability to spread canard and mislead the people even if it is for one time, remarked a party MLA.

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