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In wake of other INDIA bloc allies rallying around the AAP, the Congress campaign has, so far, been low-key but intriguing. After a number of flip-flops, many have wondered where the Gandhis are
Rahul Gandhi will launch his poll campaign for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections from Seelampur on January 13. (Image: PTI/File)
The Gandhis are finally taking their plunge into campaigning for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. It remains to be seen if senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is launching his poll campaign from Seelampur on Monday as part of his ‘Jai Samvidhan’ rally, will attack the AAP.
In wake of other INDIA bloc allies rallying around the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress campaign for the Delhi elections has, so far, been low-key but intriguing. After a number of flip-flops, many have wondered where the Gandhi family members are.
Rahul Gandhi was out of the country when the poll dates were announced, and even when the Congress unveiled the ‘five guarantees’ – conducted by party leader Sachin Pilot and Delhi unit leaders.
It is, however, quite clear that the Congress has decided to pipe down its campaign against the AAP. It is caught in a dilemma, where the Delhi unit wants the top leadership to attack the AAP as a political revival due to which the party was initially critical of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
So much so that senior leader Ajay Maken was waiting for the mourning period for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to end, to make “big revelations” about the AAP. After all, he was the communications incharge when the Anna Hazare movement was launched and was privy to much behind the scenes. But, this press conference never happened.
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This for two reasons: the Congress came under pressure from the INDIA bloc to tone down as it was felt that if the Congress fought hard against its own ally, it would contribute to a BJP victory. With the Samajwadi Party (SP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), and Shiv Sena (UBT) openly supporting the AAP, the Congress was left isolated. Then, Rahul also spoke to party leaders saying they should fight but not do anything that will help the BJP win.
The Congress is yet to release its second list of candidates. Until now, the campaign has been managed and led by Delhi unit leaders. Other senior leaders and Gandhis will be campaigning, but it is unlikely to be high voltage.
All eyes are on Rahul’s debut in the campaigning for the Delhi polls, to see if he will, after all, attack Kejriwal and the AAP. That may act as a cue for the rest of the party, but, for now, it seems to have chosen coalition dharma over party astitva.
