The victory in the Shrikaranpur by-election, where the Congress secured a win, is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will gain more prominence within the party. This victory also indicates that the public is recalling Gehlot and his ongoing schemes.
The win demonstrates that if there had been no internal conflicts within the party and if the BJP had not relied on polarisation politics, Congress’s comeback was certain.
In Shrikaranpur, both these elements were absent. While Congress was united, polarisation did not become a prominent issue. During the elections, the BJP turned the Congress’s internal rivalry into a significant weapon. While, Prime Minister Modi, during his Jaipur visit, advised the BJP leaders and legislators to avoid internal conflicts.
When the winning legislators were questioned about Congress’s defeat, the main reason cited was internal conflicts within the party. Former Congress President Sachin Pilot and his supporters did not actively work for the party during the elections.
Sachin Pilot did not campaign in Gurjar-dominated constituencies. As a result, the Gurjar community did not vote for Congress, leading to the party losing 15 to 20 seats.
BJP, by associating the Kanhaiya Lal murder case with a Jaipur incident, effectively employed the politics of polarization, causing Congress to lose the lead it had gained.
Former Chief Minister Gehlot, in a recent statement, mentioned that the BJP leveraged the politics of polarisation to create confusion and secure victory. Congress candidate Rupinder Singh Kunner’s victory has rejuvenated party leaders from Jaipur to Delhi. Congress party spokesperson Jayaram Ramesh, former CM Gehlot, and State President Govind Singh Dotasara tweeted their congratulations to Kunner, stating that the people of Shrikaranpur have shattered the BJP’s arrogance. He added that the BJP made Surendra Pal Titi a minister during the elections, violating the model code of conduct, and now, the public has taught them a lesson.
This victory in Shrikaranpur will boost Congress’s morale. BJP might face challenges in the upcoming elections. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and State President CP Joshi faced the first real challenge where the central government had no involvement.
After becoming a minister, Titi had already accepted the BJP’s victory. However, the results were shocking. Congress will benefit from this victory in Shrikaranpur. It is now certain that the region will not tolerate any kind of conflict.
Despite various complaints, the high command has expressed full confidence in the policy of forgiving Pilot and his supporters’ actions over the past two years. Yet, even after this defeat, the party has tried to give Sachin responsibility for Chhattisgarh, hoping that in the Lok Sabha elections, former CM Gehlot and the entire party can challenge BJP and win seats.
The popularity of the schemes of the previous Congress government, which are now being discontinued, is increasing sympathy for Gehlot among the general public. Congress might benefit from this in the Lok Sabha elections.