Will the charisma of Sonia help Cong?

WILL SONIA Gandhi succeed in achieving Congress’ objective of hitting two birds with one stone?

The party president will be in the city to address a public rally on August 8. No wonder, Congressmen, relying heavily on her charisma, are sure the visit will help the party sail through in the forthcoming municipal and Vidhan Sabha elections.

But, the ground realities present an altogether different picture. The over dependence on Sonia’s charm may cost the party one of the two Vidhan Sabha seats it holds at present, say political pundits.

On the other hand, the party may be able to retain or reach close to its existing tally in the municipal elections. The party controls the Kanpur Municipal Corporation (KMC) with 43 corporators while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in second position with 39 corporators. The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have 18 and 5 representatives, respectively, in the KMC.

But the Vidhan Sabha elections would prove to be tough for the Congress. Out of the five Vidhan Sabha seats in Kanpur city, Govind Nagar and Sisamau constituencies have Congress MLAs Ajay Kapoor and Sanjeev Dariabadi, respectively. The BJP that had a formidable presence in the city in the ’90s also has two MLAs — Salil Bishnoi from Generalganj and Satish Mahana. The Arya Nagar constituency is vacant following the passing away of SP MLA Haji Mushtaque Solanki.

In both the Govind Nagar and Sisamau constituencies, the Congress is on a sticky wicket as both have been BJP bastions. Former BJP MLA Balchandra Mishra represented the Govind Nagar constituency four times before losing to Ajay Kapoor in the last elections. The dominant Brahmin community in Govind Nagar can play spoilsport for Kapoor if Mishra succeeds in assuaging the bruised ego of the community leaders. Hindu card and Brahmin vote politics are Mishra’s arsenals. Notably, the weaning off the saffron card and antagonizing of the Brahmin community cost Mishra his seat.

According to political pundits, if BJP replaces Mishra with a suitable candidate who is acceptable to the residents of Govind Nagar, then even Sonia’s charm and Kapoor’s muscle power will prove to be of little help for the Congress.

As regards Sisamau, political observers are of the opinion that BJP’s decision to replace the two-time sitting MLA Rakesh Sonkar and field KC Sonkar cost the party its stronghold and Congress won it.

Rakesh who is also the district president (North) of the BJP has a strong following in the constituency. Analysts believe that if BJP mends its ways and again gives ticket to Rakesh, then even the combined magic of Sonia and Rahul will not work.