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It is going to be a challenging third term at the Rajasthan Chief Minister’s Office for Ashok Gehlot. The issues that have helped the Congress for a comeback — farm distress and unemployment — are going to haunt him ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
The first task before Gehlot is to fulfil the Congress’ promise of farm-loan waiver. Mopping up the funds for the amount is going to be difficult as the Congress has during the campaign said the coffers of Rajasthan are in a bad shape after five years of Vasundhara Raje government. The Centre may not extend a helping hand because it was a promise that helped Congress defeat the BJP.
Gehlot will have to find resources to implement promises such as ₹3500 wages for unemployed youth and re-establishing the MGNREGS.
Political compulsions
The leader will have to address political compulsions such as the preparations for the Lok Sabha polls. One of the major drawback for the Congress is its poor organisational presence in the State. To rejuvenate the organisation, Congress has always used power, and Gehlot, and itsDeputy CM Sachin Pilot may also have to depend on the governance to help the party units to revive.
To checkmate the “hindutvaisation” of the State too, Gehlot may have to take focussed steps. He may have to nullify the amendments made to the laws that prohibited transport of cattle in the State. In a State which has witnessed murders by cow vigilants, Gehlot will have to make extra efforts to ensure law and order.
Farmer-friendly politician
Gehlot is known as a farmer-friendly politician and will be under pressure to address farm distress in a short span, and set a model for the Congress can showcase it during the Lok Sabha polls. Rahul Gandhi had said in a number of election rallies that the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka and the Congress government in Punjab had announced a farm-loan waiver soon after assuming power. So, the Congress’s strategy will be to tell people, particularly in bigger States such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar that when it comes to power it can “easily” fulfil such promises.
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