This is with
reference to the editorial in Times of India ‘Battleground UP’ (March 4). UP with 80 Lok Sabha
seats has become the battleground for all parties who want to grab maximum
number of seats to improve their prospects in this year’s May election. The
forerunner in this battle is BJP with Na Mo running the campaign from front.
The others in the fray are Samajwadi Party led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, BSP led
by Mayawati, Congress with Rahul as compign leader and latest entry AAP with
Kejariwal. Modi though quoting Lucknow and Atal Bihari Bajpayee addressed the
audience and said that road to Delhi goes from Lucknow. But the people know
that there is marked difference between Modi and Atalji. Every party whether in
NDA or in opposition and every community above their linkage respected Atalji. But Modi has a strong team
of strategists in managing this election with backing from corporate houses.
The UP voters are sharply divided on community , caste, backward , forward,
harijan and many other such lines. The swinging factor is en block voting of
muslim community to single party. Division in Muslim votes is likely to benefit
BJP. Modi’s latest feather in his cap is the entry of Ram Vilas Paswan in NDA
fold. He can project him also to polish and sign his secular image.
But real danger to him is AAP party with
Arvind Kejariwal leading the compaign. AAP has not lost anything by not running
Delhi state with 49 days in power and ultimately resigning to blame it
primarily on supporting partner Congress and obliquely on BJP for putting
spokes too frequently. But their main problem is they are themselves not clear
about their priorities and major policy matters. I have never heard Arvind
Kejriwal talking in public platform about his Swaraj model. What do you want to
offer which will make you stand apart . Yes, their commitment to pass Janlokpal bill is one plank which can boost
their image. But they are spending too many words on criticising BJP and
Congress in not allowing to run Delhi state than to soliciting support from
people by explaining to them how the different
provisions of Janlokpal bill will enable root out the age old corruption
which is eating the vital organs of Indian polity. Kegriwal’s survival and
attractiveness can be through his commitment to redefining the whole game of
politics, reforming it, reinventing it and that too working within the present
system. A very difficult proposition with no organisational base throughout India.