Does former AAP leader and popular poet Kumar Vishwas fit into any Congress’ long-term political plan for Uttar Pradesh? This question has come up in the wake of Vishwas’ wife, Dr Manju Sharma, being appointed a member of Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC).
What have raised eyebrows are the two important facts related to this appointment. First, Rajasthan is the Congress-ruled state. Second, wife of Kumar Vishwas has been appointed as a member of RPSC after green-signal from the Congress high command. Obviously, Vishwas’ consent might have been also there.
Political observers believe that these two points are quite significant to suggest that there is more to what meets the eyes as far as this development is concerned. The appointment of Dr Sharma has political overtones to it, they feel.
The Congress may have a bigger political plan which starts with this appointment. The Congress appears to be going by the impression that Kumar cannot resist the temptation of playing a second political inning with it.
The political calculation that the Congress might be making is that if Vishwas joins the party, he may be useful in Uttar Pradesh for giving a boost to its agenda to woo Brahmins. Vishwas may be a popular Brahmin face of the Congress in UP where the grand old party does not have any leader who is a well-known face to impress this community. With the SP and the BSP working on the strategy to woo Brahmin voters, thinking that they are annoyed with the present regime in Lucknow, the Congress with leader like Vishwas may steal the march, sources believe. With this in view, the Congress may give Vishwas a significant responsibility in UP once the poet joins the outfit as per the plan.
Kumar Vishwas, who was the founder member of AAP, had fought elections against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi. After that, he got disillusioned with the AAP leadership and left the party. Also, there is no permanent foe or friend in politics.
He is not in any political outfit at present. There have been rumours about Vishwas joining the BJP but he always refused. Now, it is said that Vishwas must have given his consent for his wife to be an RPSC member. Importantly, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot might not have picked her without any political far-reaching assessment of the decision.
It is also said that the Congress has given a political message for Ajmer in particular and Rajasthan in general by picking Dr Sharma for RSPC member post. She hails from Ajmer in Rajasthan. Vishwas is a resident of Ghaziabad and his wife is a professor in a city’s college.
However, it will be keenly watched as to what move Vishwas makes in days to come. Uttar Pradesh will be going to polls in 2022. There is no denying that Vishwas is a popular figure and the Congress may be looking to cash in on his stature among the public.
Meanwhile, appointment of Sangeeta Arya, who is wife of an IAS officer Niranjan Arya, as another member of RPSC is also being seen as an important decision. Journalist Jaswant Rathi has also been appointed RPSC member and this appointment is also being debated in the public. Sangeeta had contested election in 2013 on a Congress ticket and for that she has been given the post.
Rathi is said to have been recommended by senior minister Lalchand Kataria. He is also said to have been picked because he fits into the Congress’ calculation of caste arithmetic. Outgoing Rajasthan DGP Bhupendra Singh Yadav has been appointed RPSC Chairman soon after taking VRS, who also suits Congress caste equations.