Kanhaiya & Khaira Get Congress Lok Sabha Poll Tickets: The ‘Free Hand’ in Face of Ally AAP, Rival BJP
In case of Kanhaiya Kumar, many in the Congress felt that the ‘tukde tukde’ controversy surrounding him could give an edge to the BJP. With a ticket for Sukhpal Singh Khaira, an opponent of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, it is clear that INDIA partners AAP and Congress will attack each other in the state
There is an air of defiance in the Congress. And it is clear both in its electoral strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as its choice of candidates.
Let’s talk about the two most significant ones — Kanhaiya Kumar who has been given ticket from Delhi North-East to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) sitting MP Manoj Tiwari. Also, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a known opponent of Punjab CM Bhagwat Singh Mann, will contest from Sangrur, the home turf of the CM, who was the MP from here, on the ‘hand’ symbol. Khaira was arrested by the Punjab police in a drugs case.
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The Congress had accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state of needlessly targeting him, which had led to a clash between the AAP and Congress in Punjab. However, the state government had defended his arrest, saying the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had found sufficient evidence against him.
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In Punjab, unlike Delhi, there is no alliance between the AAP and the Congress. But with Khaira being given the ticket, it is clear that the two parties will attack each other and this would give handle to the BJP to make the point that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc is divided. Just as the Communist Party of India’s fielding D Raja’s wife Annie Raja opposite Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad has queered the pitch. The choice of Khaira also shows that the Congress is in no mood to be generous and will take on those they want to, despite being allies.
A ticket for Kanhaiya Kumar is also significant. There were some reservations in the Congress. Many felt that the ‘tukde tukde’ controversy surrounding him could give an edge to the BJP. But with the Gandhi siblings supporting him totally, it was no surprise that Kumar has been given ticket from an area where he will take on a fellow Bihari. Plus like Tiwari, Kumar has the gift of the gab and is banking on migrant votes.
More than that, his candidature shows that the Congress won’t buckle under the pressure of the BJP. The Congress has also decided that communication needs to be aggressive and “take them on".
And for this reason, the choice of these two candidates tells a story.
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