Little more than a decade ago the Superstar Telugu Chiranjeevi formed a party - PRAJA RAJYAM (The Citizen State). The actor drew mammoth crowds in his state of erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh. A friend of mine, a huge fan of the actor turned politician boasted about the JANA (Mass) Tsunami created by his demi God who he was confident will sweep the polls.
Did Chiranjeevi attract huge crowds ? Yes, he did. Did it translate into vote ? No. The actor failed miserably winning only a handful of seats. Seeing no future prospect in his newly formed party, he later merged it with Congress which he not long ag branded as ABHINITI BATABRUKHYAM (The Banyan tree of Corruption).
Now fast forward to a decade. Like drowning man clutching to straw, a desparate Congress Party calling for desparate measures has roped in Priyanka Gandhi, the Scion of the Gandhi family and the Grand Old Party (GOP) of India. Currently in an Abysmal state in the states of UP and Bihar where the party has reached rock bottom, they have nothing to lose.
It was not so before when the Grand Old Party was a powerful force in the cow belt - a term used for the largely populated and politically vital Gangetic plain where the caste system is firmly cast in the minds of the people. The Congress party molded it, stitching together a formidable vote bank of BRAHMAN (Brahmins), HARIJAN (Scheduled caste), MAHILA (women) and MUSALMAN (Muslims).
This perfect winning recipe is passe now. Brahmins have moved long ago to BJP, the women voters are scattered all over different parties. The Harijans have gone to BSP and Muslims to SP - leaving crumbs for the Congress party.
You can never separate caste from the cow belt politics. Reminds me of an episode narrated to me by a friend, the son of a senior bureaucrat from Delhi. He was in PMO when Indira Gandhi was at the Prime Minister. During Cabinet meetings, the ministers would break for lunch. Once, Indira Gandhi walked to Kamalapati Tripathy, a Brahmin and Railway minister from UP and asked him "Tripathy JEE. BABU JAGJIVAN RAM (a minister from Scheduled Caste in her cabinet) KAHTE HAIN KI AAP UNKE SAATH NAHI KHAATE (Mr. Tripathy, Jagjivan Ram complains, you don't eat with him)".
Kamalapati replied - MADAM, MEIN AAP KE SAATH BHI NAHI KHAATA, USKE SAATH KYA KHAUNGA (Madam, I don't even eat with you, how can I eat with him) ? Indira, though born a Brahmin, lost her caste as well as religion after her marriage to Feroz Gandhi. She was never allowed inside the Puri Lord Jaganntah Temple post marriage.
The Congies (Congress supporters) now day dream about an Indira look alike Priyanka salvaging them, showering them with their long lost power. Apart from the looks, any similarity ends there. They should remember that Indira carved her niche by outsmarting her rivals, she steadfastly connected to her vote bank with catchy slogans, was a powerful leader and a tireless campaigner. Priyanka hasn't vindicated any of these qualities yet.
In a nation where 60% of the population is below the age of 35, hardly anyone roots for Indira now who died 35 years ago. Priyanka's presence may slightly revive a moribund Congress with a much needed jump start, especially in UP (it's gone in Bihar where it is happy to play second fiddle to a tainted Laloo). Will she be able to take it to the next level and make a sizable dent in the Congress part's fortune? I wouldn't bet on it.
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