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A possible defeat for Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, and the simultaneous election to the Upper House of the BJP’s master strategist Amit Shah, could be symbolic of the ruling party’s real and psychological domination.
The election to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat takes place on Tuesday. If Patel loses, not only would it confirm the BJP’s status as the single largest party even in the Upper House, but it would also mean the Congress has lost so much steam that it is unable to get even an all powerful leader such as Patel elected.
After Tuesday’s election, the BJP’s number may rise from the current strength of 58 to 59 in the Rajya Sabha, while the Congress tally may fall to 56, one down from the current level.
The numbers may not make much difference, as the BJP and its allies will have to wait some more time to have simple majority in the Upper House. But for the Congress, if Patel loses the contest, it will be portrayed as an attack against the party’s first family.
Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has been urging reporters not to refer to Patel as “the political secretary of Sonia Gandhi”. He recently told reporters that some media persons are knowingly or unknowingly referring to Patel thus, thereby unnecessarily involving her in the discussions.
“Let me make it clear that Patel is not contesting there as the political secretary of the Congress president. He is one of the senior most members of Parliament. So he is the Congress candidate. Please make it clear. I do not want you to involve the name of Sonia Gandhi every time you talk of Ahmed Patel,” Azad said.
Visible presencePatel has been an active MP. He was almost always visible in the House, taking part in debates and asking questions.
He has also been writing to ministers in the Narendra Modi cabinet about several issues, policy-related or otherwise. He has expressed confidence that he will win the polls.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, himself a former Rajya Sabha member, has predicted that Patel will lose the elections.
The BJP’s consistent efforts to ensure Patel’s defeat are an indication that their target is the first family of the Congress.
Patel’s defeat, the BJP believes, will be portrayed as further embarrassment to the Gandhis. It is likely jeopardise the Congress’s efforts in the Rajya Sabha.
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