The Lok Sabha results have shown that the Congress has done well only in states where it was into alliances. The obvious route in UP then is to tie up with the BSP. But Mayawati is a tough bargainer. Sources say Sonia Gandhi herself is handling the BSP leader now. Ajit Singh of the RLD has also sent feelers, wanting to ditch Mulayam and go with the Congress. But the problem is his Jat votebank is in conflict with Mayawati’s Dalits. So can the Congress eventually carry both parties? No one knows, but Congressmen Motilal Vora and M.L. Fotedar are in touch with Ajit Singh.
UP Congress leaders, though, aren’t too keen on the BSP. Still, it’s clear that it will be the Gandhi family that calls the shots. As CLP leader Pramod Tewari put it, "The writing is on the wall, though all the details have not been worked out". A revamp of the state party organisation is expected, followed by a Rahul roadshow but Congressmen say it is premature to give a time-frame for fresh alliances.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi will have to do better than the monthly trip and flash statements to revive the party. After all, despite his carefully choreographed appearances in a few UP Lok Sabha seats, the Congress voteshare had gone down in the recent polls. Still, there is an upsurge of goodwill for the party and the Gandhis among Muslims and the Brahmins. With Rahul linking his future to the state, there is suddenly a new glamour about UP politics.
By Saba Naqvi Bhaumik
