With less than a year left for the 2024 Loksabha elections, Congress is revitalized after recent state victories and a newborn alliance INDIA. But the gateway of majority in the parliament is Uttar Pradesh— a state with 80 LS seats.
Uttar Pradesh is the home state of the first family of Congress- Gandhis. First prime minister of India- JL Nehru, first woman prime minister Indira Gandhi, sons Sanjay and another prime minister in the family Rajiv Gandhi, Sanjay’s wife (though from rival BJP) Menaka Gandhi, her son Varun Gandhi, Rajiv’s Family— Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi —who is Congress’ face in the next election too— have contested and got elected to the parliament from different seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Worst phase as Congress is at its lowest — one Loksabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. Only Sonia Gandhi could retain Raebareli while Rahul lost Amethi to BJP minister Smriti Irani in 2019. Priyanka Gandhi looked after the Congress during the 2019 Loksabha elections.
In the 2019 elections, Priyanka Gandhi was made general secretary in-charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh while the responsibility of Western Uttar Pradesh was given to Congress leader and now BJP’s important man in Madhya Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia.
UP Congress suggested her to take on Narendra Modi from Varanasi. it could have increased the vote share of Congress in UP but after many rounds of deliberations, Priyanka finally refused to contest and Ajay Rai, who now is UP Congress Chief, had to contest against Modi. Priyanka’s dilemma is called the biggest weakness of Congress in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul has become a national leader and also spends less time in UP.
Priyanka was a frequent visitor to the state and workers wanted her to take charge of UP completely. But Priyanka’s refusal and Rahul’s defeat demoralized the already dying Congress cadre. That was in 2019 and now less than five years later, Rahul Gandhi is once against challenging Modi-led BJP. This time Rahul is not alone but a stronger INDIA alliance.
Unlike, 2019, Congress so far has the Samajwadi party by its side in UP. SP is the second largest party in terms of MLAs in the state. Rai has suggested Priyanka to contest from Varanasi against Modi. UP Congress has made a list of segments, where Priyanka could contest from, including Varanasi, Phoolpur (Once represented by Nehru), and Prayagraj.
A district-level leader from Gonda in UP, who has been with the Congress for the last 40 years, said the Congress party needs to take UP seriously. Rahul Gandhi is not a frequent visitor to the state. Even, state affairs are being looked after by Priyanka Gandhi now. if this is the case, she should enter in the poll arena. it would boost the cadre’s morale.
There are more than 20 Loksabha seats, Congress stands a chance to improve its electoral performance. Seats include Amethi, Maharajganj, Mirzapur, Domariyaganj, Allahabad, Pratapgarh, Shrawasti, Lucknow, Kushinagar, Bahraich, Ghaziabad, Barabanki, Jhansi, Rampur, Unnao, Akbarpur, Saharanpur, Faizabad, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Sultanpur, Kheri, Bareilly, Dhaurahra, Firozabad, Gonda and Moradabad. These are seats where the party won in 2009 and has secured more than 10% votes thereafter.
The Congress in UP is in aggressive hands and is not known for compromises. The party has desired to contest more than 20 seats of UP, which Akhilesh Yadav is uncomfortable with. Either Congress gets what it desires or Akhilesh wins the negotiations, Congress’ first family has to lead the party from the front in this state.
However, the results of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh will bring more clarity to the seat-sharing formula but if the Congress wants to expand its base beyond Amethi and Raebareli, Priyanka Gandhi has to end her dilemma.
Saurabh Chauhan, an independent journalist, has 10 years of experience in Print and Digital Media. He has written on a variety of issues including women’s rights, environment, crime, governance, finance and politics at Shimla, Chandigarh and Lucknow. Saurabh is currently based in Lucknow.
