The Anna factor adds to Congress woes in Hisar
The Anna factor has added to the worries of the Congress that is fighting with its back to the wall to wrest the Hisar LS constituency
By ET Bureau | Updated:
NEW DELHI: The Anna factor has added to the worries of the Congress that is fighting with its back to the wall to wrest the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency from the Haryana Janhit Congress.
A defeat could provide more muscle to the anti-Congress campaign unleashed by Anna, who has taken up the ruling party’s challenge to test his strength in the electoral battlefield. The bypoll outcome is certain to have major ramifications for the Congress as it could provide momentum to the anti-government mood.
Although Anna factor may not be the decider in Hisar — the Congress is faced with a big anti-Jat consolidation after the BJP joined hands with the HJC — the result is certain to be cited by the activists as a victory for their campaign against the Centre.
That a section of the Congress realises this was evident when they dispatched Maharashtra PCC president Manikrao Thakre to Ralegan Sidhi to soften Anna. But this project was bound to fail as leaders like Digvijaya Singh have been challenging Anna to defeat the Congress politically.
“We have taken up the challenge. We will ensure the defeat of the Congress,” said Arvind Kejriwal. A defeat for their candidate Jai Prakash, many in the Congress fear, could have a Jabalpur effect on its prospects.
It be recalled that Jabalpur bypoll defeat for the Congress in 1974 became the turning point for the party’s electoral meltdown three years later. Congress’ defeat will also encourage the BJP to cut similar deals in other states where it does not have much standing.
The smaller parties, in any case, are not comfortable with the Congress as the latter’s pan-Indian presence makes it difficult for the party to make BJPlike concessions.
Team Anna activists Arvind Kejriwal, who hails from here, and Manish Sisodia, asked voters of Hisar to teach the Congress a lesson so that it is forced to accept and pass the Bill. Kejriwal asked the voters to inflict a “historic defeat” on the Congress party and added “it will be Anna’s victory”.
A defeat could provide more muscle to the anti-Congress campaign unleashed by Anna, who has taken up the ruling party’s challenge to test his strength in the electoral battlefield. The bypoll outcome is certain to have major ramifications for the Congress as it could provide momentum to the anti-government mood.
Although Anna factor may not be the decider in Hisar — the Congress is faced with a big anti-Jat consolidation after the BJP joined hands with the HJC — the result is certain to be cited by the activists as a victory for their campaign against the Centre.
That a section of the Congress realises this was evident when they dispatched Maharashtra PCC president Manikrao Thakre to Ralegan Sidhi to soften Anna. But this project was bound to fail as leaders like Digvijaya Singh have been challenging Anna to defeat the Congress politically.
“We have taken up the challenge. We will ensure the defeat of the Congress,” said Arvind Kejriwal. A defeat for their candidate Jai Prakash, many in the Congress fear, could have a Jabalpur effect on its prospects.
It be recalled that Jabalpur bypoll defeat for the Congress in 1974 became the turning point for the party’s electoral meltdown three years later. Congress’ defeat will also encourage the BJP to cut similar deals in other states where it does not have much standing.
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The smaller parties, in any case, are not comfortable with the Congress as the latter’s pan-Indian presence makes it difficult for the party to make BJPlike concessions.
Team Anna activists Arvind Kejriwal, who hails from here, and Manish Sisodia, asked voters of Hisar to teach the Congress a lesson so that it is forced to accept and pass the Bill. Kejriwal asked the voters to inflict a “historic defeat” on the Congress party and added “it will be Anna’s victory”.
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