Congress unity in Ater worries BJP

Agriculture Minister Gaurishanker Shejwar addressing an election meeting at Mungaoli

NK SINGH

Ultimately, even Jhansi Ki Rani could not help BJP win Ater assembly by-election. It was a close call for Congress which managed to retain the seat by only 857 votes in a nail-biting finish. The result has, nevertheless, brought a smile on the face of Jyotiraditya Scindia, the scion of Gwalior’s princely family and its threatened political empire.

Although two by-elections were held in Madhya Pradesh April 2017, it seemed as if only one mattered. Few talked about polling in Bandhavgarh that fell vacant as Gyan Singh, a member of Shivraj cabinet, resigned from Vidhan Sabha to contest for parliament. Ater by-election was necessitated due to death of Satyadev Katare, the leader of opposition and a follower of Scindia.

Ater figured high on political scoreboard because there was never any doubt about the outcome in Bandhavgarh, a BJP citadel since 2003. This time too BJP retained it with a convincing margin of 25,476 votes. With this calculation in mind, both political parties had focussed their energies on Ater.

On the face of it, the by-election results hardly merit any discussion. Both Congress and BJP managed to retain their seats. The score was 1-1. But still the results have caused worry in BJP camp. For it demonstrates what a united Congress can achieve. Arvind Bhadoria, considered a heavyweight in BJP, had to suffer the ignominy of two successive defeats at the hand of father and son. In 2013, he was defeated by Satyadev Katare. Three years later Katare’s son, Hemant, a novice in political field, trounced him.

Political analysts recognise the fact that Congress displayed unprecedented unity in Ater. This was particularly noteworthy because Bhind has emerged as a fierce battleground of factional politics in Congress. Congress is divided between supporters and opponents of Jyotiraditya Scindia in the area. Just five month ago, Congress workers from rival camp were greeting Scindia with black flags. Govind Singh, a staunch follower of former chief minister Digvijay Singh, was making disparaging remarks against Scindia. The former Maharaja’s supporters were, in turn, abusing him and organising massive rallies to demonstrate their strength.

But during Ater by-election Govind Singh, considered a strongman in that area, worked whole-heartedly for Katare, functioning as chief poll organiser. He was seen breaking bread with Scindia. The rapprochement, apparently had taken place at the initiative of Scindia, who had called Govind Singh, abandoning his king-sized ego. The two had reportedly had several meetings in Delhi. Govind Singh was also moved by a promise he had made to Katare when he was hospitalised, fighting the last stage of cancer, to bury the hatchet and support his son.

On the other hand, BJP was a divided house at Ater. Bhadoria was given ticket against the wishes of several other leaders of the party. They see Bhadoria as an emerging threat in the region. Some of them reportedly ensured that Bhadoria is defeated.

No doubt, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP’s chief vote-catcher, tried very hard, working overtime in Ater, as he does in every election in order to keep the demons of anti-incumbency at bay. He spent three full days, deployed half-a-dozen ministers, pulled out all the stops and even launched a personal attack on the Scindia clan ---- an absolute no-no in saffron primary ---- in an attempt to garner more Thakur votes. Rajputs have traditionally opposed Scindias in the region. Chouhan apparently thought that the anti-Scindia line would help his party’s candidate, who was also a Rajput.

The poll outcome has far more significance for Congress than it has for BJP. The results were supposed to settle leadership issue between Jyotiraditya and Kamal Nath, both of whom were jockeying for power. The party high command had tasked the two leaders with winning the two by-elections, Scindia in Ater and Nath in Bandhavgarh. Now, that Nath has failed to snatch Badhavgarh, the dice is heavily loaded in favour of Scindia, who is already describing the results as a “victory of future aspirations”.

Tailpiece

Both new entrants to MP assembly are products of political dynasties. Hemant Katare got a Congress ticket from Ater because the party thought that he would a worthy successor to his father, former leader of opposition Satyadev Katare. Similarly, Shivnarayan Singh got Bandhavgarh on a platter from BJP because his father, Gyan Singh, resigned the assembly seat only after an assurance that he will be replaced by his son. Now the doting father has staked claim on a ministerial berth for his son, a first-time legislator. The logic is simple: if his son can take his place in the assembly, why not in the cabinet?

Powers That Be, my column in DB Post of April 16, 2017

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