JUNE 10- In the last two days, many Congress leaders have gone on record sayingNarendra Modi is of no consequence to the party. Some Congress strategists, however, believe that a “Modified” BJPmay be a blessing in disguise for Rahul Gandhi.
Modi, considered a divisive figure in the country’s politics, would in fact help the Congress as his elevation in BJP is expected to trigger a reverse polarisation of Muslims and secular allies against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The Congress brass, who were hitherto waiting for an official announcement of Modi’s elevation, are expected to go into a huddle shortly to formulate a strategy. Sources said the party would focus on 200odd Lok Sabha constituencies where minority communities can tilt the scale. The Congress had won 42 seats due to the support of Muslim voters in 2009. Of these constituencies, the party had won only 12 seats in 2004 while the rest went to the regional secular parties such as the SP, BSP and Trinamool Congress.
With Modi at the helm, the Congress strategists plan to sharpen focus on the minority seats across the country.
As such, the party is drawing plans to push welfare schemes for the minorities in the coming months. Special development schemes are being launched in 66 towns and 710 minority-dominated blocks across the country at a cost of Rs.5,775 crore. The party is also pushing for sub-quota of eight per cent to Muslims out of 27 per cent OBC quota pie and bringing more minority caste to the OBC list.
Sources said the party is planning state-specific strategies as Modi is not a factor outside Gujarat, especially in the South, East and North-East.
“Modi’s elevation has added clarity and now we will be in a position to formulate our pre-poll strategy in Bihar,” a senior party leader said.
Congress sources said Uttar Pradesh sending 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha will be the deciding factor in 2014. Three factors that weigh in the Congress mind are the ability of Modi to bring huge corporate funds (election donations) to the BJP which hitherto received little from sundry industrialists and smalltime traders and the third, how to strengthen the moribund party in UP and to wean away the Muslim voters from the SP and BSP.
Despite several experiments by Rahul Gandhi, the party continues to be in a disarray giving rise to fears whether it will be able to retain the 22 Lok Sabha seats from the state.
INDIA TODAY
