In electoral politics where winner takes all, the bigger story at times is lost in the jubilation and euphoria of the victory parades. The real shift in the polity at time is reflected in the decimation of the losing side.
Congress’s pulverization in Maharashtra local body polls in many ways reflects steady erosion in the Grand Old Party’s political capital.
Relegated to a poor number three in BMC which it ruled till 1995, BMC polls in itself is a microcosm of what is wrong with the Congress party as a whole. Any attempts to arrest the free fall in the last three years have borne limited success.
Halfway through the counting for BMC polls, Congress Mumbai Chief Sanjay Nirupam offered to quit. The party which won more than 50 seats in 2012 had conceded its political space to the BJP. Which includes a large chunk of the north-Indian votes which constitutes almost a quarter of the total Mumbai electorate. Also Read: Shiv Sena Still Short of Halfway Mark in Mumbai: Two Likely Scenarios
Infact, Nirupam’s entry into Congress a decade back unto itself was a matter of great controversy within the party. The former Shiv Sainik who also edited a party mouth-piece faced stiff resistance from Sunil Dutt camp. Considered close to CongressVP Rahul Gandhi, he later contested and won LS elections on party ticket from Mumbai in 2009.
However, his elevation as Mumbai Congress Committee President two and a half years back ruffled many feathers. Nirupam could never get along well with former CM and another import from Shiv Sena Narayan Rane. He’s had a running feud with his predecessor Gurdas Kamath who had even quit Congress a few months back citing differences within.
For a rank outsider to be inducted into the party and win election is another thing. To lead the organization, is far too complex.
Congress’ performance in BMC polls perhaps makes that apparent.
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BJP was quick to realize that there was a political void being left behind by the Congress and its former ally the NCP. Especially in urban Maharashtra. The party, after a quick risk assessment dared to break ties with Shiv Sena to contest elections on its own strength. It went for the kill, and reaped rich dividends.
IT is not just the Congress, but its old ally NCP which has suffered at the hands of BJP in these elections. In two of its strongholds in Western Maharashtra Pune and Nashik, BJP seems to have emerged as the key and dominant player.
Both Congress and NCP leadership since forfeiting power after fifteen years of un-stinted rule in the state. Nashik strongman and NCP leader Chagan Bhujbal is behind bars. Ashok Chavhan has had to contend with his own cases.
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Adding to the woes of the Cong-NCP alliance is Asadudding Owasi of AIMIM. Owaisi made inroads into minority votes in the last assembly polls and has followed it up by fielding candidates in local body elections. It area of influence remains Mumbai and parts of Nizam’s state in pre-independence India.
The only silver lining for the alliance remains zila-parishad results where they seems to have levelled scores with BJP and SS.
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