Kerala ballot a do-or-die battle for Rahul Gandhi

By Express News Service
KOCHI: Since the day he took a shock fishing journey off Thangassery coast in Kollam with two dozen fishermen, Congress former chief Rahul Gandhi has spent a few week within the state campaigning for the UDF for the meeting elections. Including his first go to of February 23-24 throughout which he highlighted the deep-sea fishing row, one of many ballot planks of UDF, Rahul has to this point visited the state thrice, campaigning within the north, central and south areas.

He taught self-defence methods to woman college students of St Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, warmly hugged and posed for photographs with aged girls he met on the highway and invited children to his marketing campaign automobile wherever the highway present stopped for temporary speeches. During speeches, Rahul tried to focus on NYAY, which guarantees `6,000 to BPL households, and spoke about the necessity to defeat the divisive ideology promoted by BJP. He visited Sastha temple and Vavar mosque at Erumeli, thus figuring out himself with the issues of believers.

Before the general public campaigning involves an finish within the state on April 4, Rahul is predicted to marketing campaign for UDF no less than for 2 extra days. His sister Priyanka Gandhi reached the state on Monday for a two-day whirlwind tour overlaying strategic constituencies.

The battle for Kerala is as essential for the Gandhis as for the state Congress management. The May 2 verdict will decide Rahul’s determination whether or not to take up the Congress president put up once more or not. The social gathering is ready to elect a brand new head in June and Rahul has determined to not run for the put up. With stress mounting throughout the social gathering for his return and the insurrection soft-launched by ‘G-23’ leaders, the Gandhi scion is rethinking the choice, it’s learnt. It appears the Kerala election is seen by him as a self-appraisal as he’s the Wayanad MP.

“With all odds against UDF, it is a real challenge to win in the state. Rahul is convinced of that. On his part, the preparation for elections began last November when the local body poll results were announced. If you see any freshness in the Congress candidate list and tough fight in some of LDF’s sitting constituencies where new faces are contesting, all that is due to his resolve,” mentioned a Congress chief who expressed confidence of profitable again the state.

The final spherical survey by the Congress central management is learnt to have recognized 62 seats the place victory is for certain. Another 20 are categorised as powerful battle seats and the management is assured of wresting half of these by means of intensive last-minute marketing campaign led by Rahul and Priyanka. 

“This is how Pathanamthitta district got a place in Rahul’s campaign trail. Situation has changed there and we have high chances of winning back Aranmula, Ranni and Konni. Even Tiruvalla seems winnable,” mentioned the chief. The similar logic was behind bringing Rahul to Pala, the place Mani C Kappan has posed a troublesome battle to Jose Ok Mani. He additionally went to Idukki the place UDF candidates are posing powerful contest in LDF’s sitting seats Peermade and Devikulam, and to Muvattupuzha the place Mathew Kuzhalnadan has been working arduous to defeat incumbent MLA Eldo Abraham.

“It is true that Rahul’s campaign has created a buzz. But, it is nowhere near the 2019 campaign when he was projected as the future PM. I don’t think he can create any magic this time,” mentioned political scientist Ok M Sajad Ibrahim.In the previous one month, Rahul visited Tamil Nadu twice and campaigned for candidates of DMK alliance by which Congress is a junior companion. He did a two-day hectic marketing campaign tour of Assam the place the Congress is making an attempt arduous to unseat the incumbent BJP authorities. Though he hasn’t travelled to West Bengal but, sources say he would marketing campaign there after the Kerala part is over.

Winning Kerala and Assam is what Rahul goals for. Both have been seen unlikely occasions as marketing campaign began,. however issues modified and hope is again on the social gathering central management. Even if Assam slips, Kerala win will make him snug. “A win acquired through ground-level campaigning directly led by him will clear all confusion and reaffirm his claim for the party’s top post,” mentioned the Congress chief. ‘If that doesn’t occur…’ is simply too unnerving an possibility for Congress leaders who don’t even wish to suppose on these strains.