Lucknow: With Uttar Pradesh having become the focal point of the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the two major parties – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress – are still grappling with a host of problems as a result of which their campaign has not kicked off. The recent reports of resentment and protest among BJP workers over ticket distribution and favour to recent entrants appear to have cost a bit of initial advantage that BJP enjoyed.
But whereas there is confidence in the BJP camp that Narendra Modi's rallies that began last year and culminated in Lucknow on 2 March have created enough hype about the parties, there is puzzlement in Congress circles over the timing of party vice president Rahul Gandhi holding a rally in Pratapgarh today (Saturday, 22 March) where the election is scheduled for 7 May. The party's indecision in announcing several key candidates is also adding to the confusion.
Narendra Modi. PTI
As for the other parties, Bahujan Samaj Party's Mayawati made it clear while announcing the list of all 80 candidates a couple of days in Lucknow that she will start her series of public rallies in the state from 3 April. At present she is campaigning in other states. The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP), meanwhile, is holding workers' meetings in Lucknow to chalk out its campaign strategy. The SP campaign will mainly feature party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, his chief minister son Akhilesh Yadav, brother Shivpal Yadav and cousin Ram Gopal Yadav, besides ministers Azam Khan.
The issues the SP is likely to raise in its campaign are accomplishments of the SP government, its commitment towards Muslims, the alleged "misrule" of the BSP and the "communal" agenda of Modi.
The focus, however, remains on BJP since both Modi and party president Rajnath Singh are contesting from Varanasi and Lucknow, respectively.
The party's state president Laxmikant Vajpayee said the campaign all over the state has already started. "The 400 video raths have already been sent to the respective allotted areas," he said. The vans are equipped with an audio-visual set-up on which a video film will be shown. "The video comprises 10 minutes' address each of Modi, Rajnath Singh and 10 minutes of party's promotion. From the rath, party pamphlets and a small calendar will be distributed to the people," Vajpayee said.
A list of 40 star campaigners has been finalised and their schedule will be announced soon, he said. He is emphatic that in view of the "prevalent mood" in BJP's favour nothing special might be required for any constituency. For Lucknow, incidentally, the needs of the local workers and campaigners will be met.
The most interesting campaign strategy is unfolding in case of Varanasi. Vajpayee said the "opposition candidate" in Varanasi is in the fray only for "publicity" and has no influence on the voters, and in contrast the BJP is taking care to campaign as per the Election Commission guidelines "since it is a VVIP contest." In any case, he says not much publicity is required as Modi is a "national icon."
However, it is learnt that an advance team comprising party activists and other professionals from Gujarat has already visited Varanasi and has identified areas and issues that need to be included in the campaign. Besides, some Muslims from Gujarat have also visited Varanasi to meet people from the community and told them that they are quite happy and secure in Gujarat.
"Prior to this, a group of Muslims from Varanasi, including some weavers, were taken to Gujarat to enable them to see for themselves the progress the community had made despite the reports of their so-called victimization," a non-BJP source said. Interestingly, he said "even the Kashi region unit of the BJP did not know of these visits and they too came to know through us."
This matches Modi's functioning style as per which only a small group close to him prepares the strategy. But this has left the local BJP in the dark and they are wondering what they are to do and when.
Elsewhere, the resentment of BJP workers over ticket distribution and favours to new entrants has also delayed the campaign. Such places include Deoria, Domariyaganj, Gonda, Kaiserganj, Mathura, Ghaziabad and Allahabad. However, Vajpayee said that "except for 10 or 12 candidates where the party had to make some unavoidable decisions, tickets have been given elsewhere to party leaders and workers keeping their experience and seniority in mind."
Vajpayee admitted that there was "initial dissatisfaction and anger" over ticket distribution in some cases leading to protests which he described as "natural human reaction," but everything was under control now. "In the coming days, you will see organised and smooth campaigning all over the state."
On the other side of the political fence, there appears to be no clear view in the Congress over how the campaign will take shape in days to come. Party leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a well-attended rally in Pratapgarh, even though the polling in that constituency is scheduled for 7 May. The Pratapgarh seat is represented by Ratna Singh who seeks to retain it for the fourth term.
Although the ostensible reason for choosing Pratapgarh would be to counter Narendra Modi's influence in eastern UP, it is a little early to spread this kind of political awareness since even Modi's campaign in Varanasi has not started. Pratapgarh is next door to Rampur Khas, the Assembly constituency of Pramod Tiwari, the Congress veteran who has since moved to Rajya Sabha. "Bringing Rahul to Pratapgarh is part of Tiwari's strategy to show his hold in the area as he is seeking Congress ticket for his daughter Aradhana from Rampur Khas," says a UPCC leader.
According to him, it is "pre-occupations" like this which have delayed the formulation of a proper campaign plan for the Congress. "In any case, we have few star campaigners and their visits should be planned with care so that maximum impact can be derived in larger interest of the party, rather in the interest of certain individuals," he said.
In this respect, there is grudging admiration among other parties for the BSP strategy since the BSP has only one "star" campaigner, and prior to her rallies, the party cadre has been working quietly and relentlessly to prepare the ground.
