Leaks could set tone for polls
The WikiLeaks expose could set the tone of the electoral battle in five states going to the polls in April-May. While this issue could be relevant in the West Bengal and Kerala Assembly elections with the ruling Left front trying to use it against the Congress and the Trinamul Congress, the AIADMK may launch its campaign on the single issue of corruption against the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.
While the Opposition’s strategy in New Delhi is to stall Parliament proceedings on Friday and rest of the days, the Congress managers on Thursday indicated an early conclusion of the Budget Session.
The Opposition has made Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as its main target of attack with a calculation that the Centre’s pro-US line could make a dent in the Congress’ support base among the minorities in Assam, West Bengal and Kerala.
Though the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will be the Congress’ star campaigner in the electoral battle, Dr Singh will also be will be addressing election meetings in all the five states.
The CPI(M) politburo demanded the registration of a case in the “cash-for-vote” scam following the WikiLeaks expose and termed it as a “gross act of political malfeasance and bribery”. It said the Congress leadership, including the Prime Minister cannot escape from their responsibility.
But the Congress is confident that corruption and WikiLeaks expose will not be an issue in the five states mainly because the people would vote on the basis of performance of the incumbent governments and the local issues .The Left and the LDF governments in West Bengal and Kerala are facing anti-incumbency, in fact, a pro-Mamata Banerjee wave is visible in West Bengal, claimed a Trinamul Congress leader.
And in Assam, the Congress is optimistic of retaining power for a third time successively mainly because of lack of an alternative. However, the 2G, CWG, Adarsh Housing and palmolien scams have already boosted the morale of the Opposition.
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