Horses for courses

Horses for courses

In certain states Congress really should name CM candidates.

In significant implications for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, opposition parties have reportedly decided to leave the issue of prime ministerial candidate for the post-election phase. Congress seems to have decided to focus all energies on forging unity among anti-BJP parties rather than get into the divisive issue of PM nominee. This is smart strategy as it would suit BJP to make the Lok Sabha polls a clash of personalities. And given the Prime Minister Narendra Modi card BJP is going to have the upper hand in a presidential-style contest.

Interestingly the opposition understanding comes after Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said that he was ready to become PM if his party emerged as the single largest after the polls. Subsequently the Congress Working Committee too had indicated that Rahul is the party’s natural PM choice. Shelving the matter now shows acknowledgement of Congress’s true strength today. It’s in no position to automatically claim the leadership mantle and must work on building alliances to defeat BJP.

Congress’s talks with parties such as BSP, SP and NCP seem to be proceeding positively. This is particularly important because Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra – states where these regional parties are strong – together account for 168 Lok Sabha seats. In 2014, BJP and its allies had won a whopping 146 of them. Thus the opposition has to significantly reduce NDA’s tally in these three states to have any chance of coming to power in 2019. It will like to see an escalation of the differences that have developed between BJP and its allies JD(U) in Bihar and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

But the Lok Sabha campaign will also be about momentum. Assembly elections in the BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will be crucial. Reportedly, Congress is looking to not name any chief ministerial candidates here either. This may be designed to prevent factionalism and not create a personality battle with strong BJP CMs like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh. But Congress is in a direct fight with BJP in these states, with current governments facing considerable anti-incumbency. So the party would actually do well to declare CM candidates here. Much like the last Punjab assembly polls that Congress won, this will help rally the local units. Congress has to be supple and choose electoral strategies according to immediate circumstances.