The ruling Aam Aadmi Party and principal opposition party, the Congress, in Punjab entered into an unusual competition to outdo each other in self-harm. While the AAP mishandled the issue of the alleged sacrilegious video showing a man resembling Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a section of the leadership within the Punjab Congress resorted to “rebellion” against the high command’s nominations, knowing well it will not yield anything.
When the AAP was struggling to manage the headlines, the Congress infighting came as a distraction and the Chief Minister’s “video issue” went to the backburner. Although the issue is quite sensitive and may not die down easily, it did provide the AAP a momentary breather as the focus shifted to the perennial and characteristic infighting within the Congress. The Punjab Congress leaders inadvertently gave another handle to the AAP whom they accuse of being controlled by the “Delhi leadership”, that their plight is no better. After all, the leadership decisions in the Congress are also taken by the party high command based in Delhi only.
The AAP government has taken some important decisions which have directly benefited a lot of voters. Yet, given the characteristic anti-incumbency sentiment that is always dominant in Punjab, along with the controversy over the purported video of the Chief Minister, had put the ruling party on the back foot. The Congress was ranked as the favourite over the AAP. But with such terrible optics for the Congress that was on display during the last one week and was self-created, the AAP managed a face saver.
The AAP government announced the Rs 1000 and Rs 1500 monthly cash assistance scheme for general category and Scheduled Caste women, respectively on July 1. The beneficiaries have started receiving the money. Moreover, the government paid three instalments together. Although the AAP has been quite late in providing the cash assistance, the women should have received around Rs 50,000 each by now if the scheme was launched on time. Still, this may deliver some electoral benefits to the ruling party.
Another major important decision that the AAP government took was to provide Rs 10,000 monthly honorarium to the sarpanches across the state. A sarpanch is at the cutting edge of the interface between the government and common people in villages. Empowering the sarpanches financially will definitely deliver good dividends for the ruling party. Sarpanches play an important role at the time of casting of votes. The AAP, which badly lacks grassroots cadre, will definitely feel compensated through the sarpanches.
Also read: Behind Congress’ Punjab rebellion is its own ‘strategic’ error
Three hundred units of free electricity to every household across Punjab, irrespective of the social or economic status, has benefited almost every family across Punjab. While it has massively benefitted the middle and lower middle classes, even a number of upper middle class families have not received any electricity bills during “off season”, including the winters. It is for the first time that any such scheme has directly benefited such a large section of the middle class families.
But the elections are not exclusively decided by direct financial benefits alone. A substantial number of beneficiaries already have their fixed and decided political opinions. Such benefits do not necessarily change their voting choice. They avail of the benefits and still vote according to their own preferences. And when the sentiment is quite strong against the government, such benefits do not work at all. The farming community, which has immensely benefited from free power to agriculture sector, was the first to revolt against the Shiromani Akali Dal, the party that introduced the scheme, after certain incidents like sacrilege and pardon to the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
Under these circumstances, if any party could benefit and score over the ruling AAP, it is the Congress only. This is because the Shiromani Akali Dal, although on revival, is yet to emerge as a serious challenger to the AAP. The splinter groups have very limited influence. The BJP may be making a lot of noise; it does not reflect proportionately at the grassroots. It definitely is far better placed in Punjab now than it ever was in the past, but on its own it is nowhere within the striking distance of forming the government.
This leaves the Congress as the main, if not the only challenger to the AAP. While the issue of factionalism is likely to get resolved, the party will need to do a lot more to get across the message of unity among the people of Punjab.
While it is typical of the Congress to have such factional fights over leadership issues ahead of elections, this time, due to the absence of a strong leader, the issue blew up more and at one stage seemed to have gone out of control. The party will not only need to be united, it must also be seen as united to pose a serious challenge to the ruling AAP.
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