A renewed aggression on the part of the BJP in some states is leading to new tensions, as has come to light in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, and indications from the BJP are that this could continue in other states too, where erstwhile allies may be waiting for a re-alignment. In this respect, the names of Janata Dal (S) and Telugu Desam have been making the rounds, and, despite some observations to the contrary, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab and MNS in Maharashtra could also figure in the exercise. The move by Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awami Morcha (HAM) in Bihar is also seen as part of the realignment, as a similar action some time ago by Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP saw the party moving closer to the BJP.
CONG, BSP TO WOO COMMON VOTE BASE
In UP, as the BJP and Samajwadi Party ramp up their preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati appears to be falling back on its traditional support base of the Dalits and other marginalised sections of society, as is evident from her scathing criticism of the other two parties as being too “Hindutva-oriented.” Since the SP shifted its attention towards wooing the majority community, the BSP and, to some extent, the Congress are looking at the possibility of an opportunity among the OBCs, MBCs, Dalits, and Muslims. Reports indicate that in the coming weeks, a reshuffle in the BSP and Congress will make this strategy clear.
AAP RALLY LEAVES BJP UNDETERRED
Even as the AAP is enthused over the huge turnout at the big public meeting at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan addressed by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal against the ordinance on the Delhi government’s control over services, the BJP does not see the event as of much consequence since the fate of the ordinance is to be decided in Rajya Sabha. The rally had come as the grand finale of Kejriwal’s initiative to visit different states to drum up support for the issue. He had met Nitish Kumar, MK Stalin, Mamata Banerjee, Hemant Soren, K Chandrashekhar Rao, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, and Sharad Pawar, even as Nitish Kumar had been meeting most of these leaders as well as those from the Congress separately in his quest for opposition unity.