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New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) Nearly two months after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promised explosive revelations on the level of dropping ‘hydrogen bombs’, he will launch the grand old party’s campaign for the election process which he is criticizing for allegedly favoring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Meanwhile, his party workers are yet to collect the necessary material for the revelation, while others are jostling for nominations in the Bihar Assembly elections, where the mandate will come from voters listed in the voter list prepared by the Election Commission after Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Ever since the Congress leadership published its final list of candidates, it has been facing the anger of disgruntled members whose names were not included in the list of candidates.
Earlier, the election body completed the process of SIR of Bihar’s voter list, and released the final list of voters on 30 September, where it claimed that there were “zero appeals” till Monday, 27 October.
The Election Commission has announced the launch of SIR in another dozen states and union territories. The decision has, expectedly, triggered sharp political reactions from opposition parties, including the Congress, which has again accused the Election Commission of “vote theft”.
The 12 states and union territories where the next phase of SIR will take place include West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where elections are expected to be held by May-June next year.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi’s absence from Bihar’s political scene has become the focal point of discussion as the state gears up for assembly elections in November.
Earlier reports had said that he would directly hold talks with grand alliance ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on seat-sharing equations, but the matter has been left to emissaries of the Congress high command.
It was also left to the central leaders to address the internal rebellion in the state unit by ticket claimants, as well as the issue of candidates contesting against allies in some constituencies.
The ticket distribution process was mired in allegations of corruption and favoritism, leading to protests and alienation between the central leadership and local workers.
Till October 23, the day of withdrawal of nomination papers for the second phase of voting, uncertainty was looming over the unity of the opposition faction. Media queries on Rahul Gandhi’s absence reportedly went unanswered.
However, the opposition’s ambitious “Voters Adhikar Yatra” in August, which covered about 1,300 kilometers across 25 districts, initially boosted enthusiasm among Congress workers.
The gap since his last on-ground appearance has now affected the pace and confidence.
Meanwhile, other top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Tejashwi Yadav himself have intensified their campaign campaigns.
It is noteworthy that Tejashwi Yadav had started a solo yatra in some important districts soon after the joint “Voter Adhikar Yatra” ended on September 1, which was highly appreciated by his party.
Since then, Rahul Gandhi’s absence has not only affected Congress’s visibility on the ground, but also highlighted internal fractures within the party and among the opposition parties.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs continued to fulfill their commitments elsewhere, raising more questions. Some party leaders have justified his absence due to the festivities, where Rahul is scheduled to hold joint rallies with Tejashwi on October 29 and 30.
Since the first phase of voting (November 6) is just days away, questions remain about the effectiveness of this late entry. While the Congress is circulating old clips of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to rekindle support, the ground reality suggests that presence and timing matter – the delayed participation may be more symbolic than strategic.
–IANS
JB/PGH