The election fight in Delhi may or may not be triangular, but the campaign has definitely become so. And, Rahul Gandhi’s entry is only going to increase it. But, first it is important to understand what is the main reason behind Rahul Gandhi’s decision to hold a rally at the very beginning of the election campaign?
Has the Congress leadership really become serious about the Delhi Assembly elections? Or has Rahul Gandhi had to decide to enter the electoral front to overcome the increasing pressure in the opposition alliance INDIA Bloc?
The question arises whether Rahul Gandhi is serious about the assembly elections because till now, whatever work was being done under the election campaign in Delhi, neither Rahul Gandhi nor Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were seen anywhere around. Talking about the 2020 assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi held a total of four public meetings or road shows, in which Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present at two places. At that time Priyanka Gandhi was only the Congress General Secretary, now she has also become an MP from Wayanad.
There was a lot of uproar over a statement by Rahul Gandhi during that election. Rahul Gandhi had said, ‘This speech Narendra Modi is giving… he will not be able to come out of the house after six months… the youth of India will beat him like this, they will make him understand that without providing employment to the youth of India, he will not be able to come out of the house. The country cannot move forward.
In the 2020 elections, Congress had fielded its candidates on 66 out of 70 seats. Candidates from Congress ally Lalu Yadav’s party RJD were in the fray on 4 seats. The deposits of 63 out of 66 Congress candidates were also confiscated, and among them were those candidates in whose favor the brothers and sisters had gone around seeking votes.
Congress’s preparations before Rahul Gandhi enters the fray
Even before Rahul Gandhi took charge in the Delhi elections, Congress leaders have been adopting a very aggressive stance against Arvind Kejriwal, and are calling him ‘fake’ – some election promises have also been announced by the Congress. Are.
1. Yuva Udaan Scheme: Just like in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress had talked about bringing ‘Right to Apprenticeship’ law under Youth Justice, it has also announced to bring Yuva Udaan scheme for Delhi Assembly elections.
During the Lok Sabha elections, Congress had asked the youth of the country to secure jobs first. It was said by the Congress that if the government is formed, every diploma and degree holder youth up to the age of 25 years will be given the opportunity of apprenticeship in the government or private sector, and under this, a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh every year i.e. Rs 8,500 every month will be given. Assistance will be given.
Talking about Congress’s Yuva Udaan scheme, Sachin Pilot said that if our government comes to power, then we will give Rs 8500 every month to the educated unemployed youth of Delhi under one year apprenticeship… and, the youth will also be given training in the field during that period. Will get the work done.
2. Pyari Didi Scheme: Congress has promised to give Rs 2500 every month to women if they form the government in Delhi after winning the assembly elections. This scheme was announced in the presence of Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. Congress says that in Delhi too, women will get benefits on the lines of Karnataka’s Griha Laxmi Yojana.
3. Survival Plan: Congress has also announced a life insurance scheme of Rs 25 lakh in Delhi. Under the Jeevan Raksha Yojana, if the Congress government is formed in Delhi, every Delhiite has been promised an insurance facility of Rs 25 lakh.
Like Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi did not travel to Delhi before the Lok Sabha elections, but even in the initial phase, an attempt is being made to indicate that the Congress leadership is also serious about the Delhi elections this time.
There is a question of dominance in India Block
No matter how much seriousness the Congress is trying to show regarding the Delhi elections, the purpose of Rahul Gandhi’s entry into the campaign seems to be different. It is possible that Congress’s performance on some seats may be better than before – but the results of the elections in Haryana and Maharashtra are not giving much hope.
Due to the uproar on the issue of Ambedkar, the issue of India Block seemed to have stopped for some time, but after the support given by first Mamata Banerjee and then Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party to Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi elections, new issues have emerged. The equations are beginning to appear.
At present, India Block seems to be divided into two parts in Delhi elections. And these two parts are also not equal. On one hand, Aam Aadmi Party has the support of two parties of the alliance, and on the other hand, Congress is left alone in the field – and this seems to be the biggest reason for Rahul Gandhi to enter the Delhi election campaign.
Omar Abdullah has also raised questions on the existence of India Block. Akhilesh Yadav’s response has come, in which he is saying that India Bloc has remained – and from his words also it seems as if he is talking about the survival of India Bloc, keeping Congress aside.
In the overall circumstances, it had become very important for Rahul Gandhi to contest the Delhi elections. More to maintain dominance in India Bloc than to win elections. Not only in Delhi, there seems to be nothing much left for the Congress in the Bihar elections to be held at the end of 2025 – but the purpose of Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar tour program on January 18 is also related to the India Block.