The possibility of winning new friends ahead of 2019 seems to be the focus of both the ruling BJP and the Congress as the Election Commission announced the schedule of the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana, which will set the tone for the general elections.
For the Congress, defeating the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan is essential to prove that it will emerge as the key force to gather anti-BJP forces in 2019. For the BJP, which has started reaching out to regional parties, retaining power in the three States is important to give a message that its base is in tact ahead of 2019. In Mizoram, the Congress is trying to retain power while in Telangana, TRS is fighting a grand alliance of TSP, Congress and the CPI.
In Madhya Pradesh, the decision of the BSP to contest alone will have an impact on the Congress’s fortunes. SP has also announced that it will probe the possibilities of an alliance with BSP in the State. While SP is strong in certain pockets, BSP has very strong presence in at least 100 seats in the State. Had contested together, the Congress and the BSP could have won 50 more seats in the 2013 Assembly polls. The BJP is worried about the protests of farmers and the allegations of corruption such as the Vyapam scam. The party is fighting anti-incumbency of 15 years also.
In Chhattisgarh, the present regime headed by BJP leader Raman Singh had also faced a number of corruption allegations. The Congress was just 10 seats behind the BJP in 2013. But in 2018, its major drawback will be the formation of a new party, Chhattisgarh Janata Congress, by former chief minister Ajit Jogi. The BSP has aligned with Jogi’s party. While the BSP will contest 35 seats, Jogi’s party will contest 55 seats in the 90-member Assembly.
In Rajasthan too, farmers’ protests had put pressure on the BJP government headed by Vasundhara Raje Scindia. The Congress is confident of coming back to power. A team headed by former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, PCC president Sachin Pilot and senior leader CP Joshi is leading the Congress in the State.
In Telangana, TRS surprised the opponents by going early for the polls. The Congress-TDP-CPI alliance will have to struggle a lot in the State as the TRS is enjoying tacit support from the BJP too.
In Mizoram, the Mizoram National Front, an ally of the BJP, challenges the present regime of the Congress.