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POLITICS

position may get another boost with
BJP not able to match up to the AAP
government led by Arvind Kejriwal
who is making a serious bid to regain
power once again. The political ana-
lysts say that the tally of AAP may not
be as impressive as it was during the
last Assembly election 67 out of 70 but
because the race to win public percep-“
the party would sail through.
he Congress is in overdrive ever
since it tasted success in Maha-
T rashtra and Jharkhand in sewing
post election and pre election alliances
and performing well in Haryana. The
fact is that since the loss in 2014, the
Congress has been struggling to get
control of the political narrative. It has
perhaps got the same now. Congress
president, Sonia Gandhi, former presi-
dent of the party, Rahul Gandhi and
his sister and AICC General Secretary
UP Priyanka Gandhi are attacking PM
Modi and CAA and NRC.
How the Opposition scripts its Maharashtra and Jharkhand elec-
future strategy would be interesting tion results show that the Congress
to watch. The AAP has tied up with is capable of showing flexibility and
poll strategist Prashant Kishore. How is prepared to go to any level to keep
baffled ruling party is can be under- BJP out of power. Nobody could have
stood from the recent statement of thought of Congress joining hands
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with Shiv Sena.
who when asked to comment by The current In Jharkhand it agreed to be a
media about AAP tie up with I-PAC agitation and different second fiddle before Jharkhand Mukti
of Prashant Kishor, said sarcastically Morcha. Both experiments show that
“Who is Prashant Kishor”? parties coming Congress has that flexibility and practi-
Of course it would be too early to together would be akin cal approach. It is the maturity of Sonia
drive at the conclusion that the Op- Gandhi or survival instinct of Congress
position has got the winning formula to the mass movement that was facing barbs of “Congress
or even a narrative to take on the BJP against UPA. The Mukt Bharat” from the BJP.
All this is working for Opposition
tion could still be very long. It would difference this time is and the BJP has been on the defensive
also be interesting to watch how BJP that then the target but to arrive at a definite conclusion
counters Opposition strategy. The BJP that the Opposition has got a shot in
is a cadre based political party and was UPA and now it the arm and a winning formula would
since 2014 it has expanded its base and would be BJP. It is to be be too early to say. Similarly, it has got
has resources at its command. a powerful narrative in the form of
Also will all Opposition parties seen if then the target anti-CAA and NRC agitations, but how
come on a single platform to match BJP reaches out to masses to educate
perceptions on CAA and NRC? Unless was UPA and now it them would be watched with interest
all the Opposition parties burn dif- would be BJP. It is to be in near future. One safe take would be
ferences and give even a semblance that the Opposition has clinched an
of unity, the battle would only be half seen if the Opposition issue courtesy CAA and NRC agitations
won. The BJP has already launched its optimism will stay and to take on the BJP.
outreach to reach out to people to edu-
cate them about the CAA and NRC. prove the test of time LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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