A Delhi court’s dismissal of petition against Union minister P. Chidambaram in the 2G spectrum case has come as a morale booster for the Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.
The Congress will now intensify its attack on BSP supremo Mayawati and raise the issue of corruption during her regime.
Opposition parties, especially the BSP and the BJP, were optimistic of making the 2G spectrum scam an issue against the Centre in the Uttar Pradesh elections. But now they will have to change the strategy as the spectrum scam is unlikely to puncture the Congress’ campaign against the BSP.
Ms Mayawati has reportedly described the Congress as “maha-bhrashtachari” (most corrupt) after the Supreme Court’s verdict to cancel 122 licences. But the reports coming from UP suggest that the spectrum scam is hardly an issue as corruption at the local level in the administration is influencing voters more than that at the Centre.
The Congress has built up its election campaign on the twin issues of corruption and governance, besides Uttar Pradesh “pride” asking Ms Mayawati and Mr Mulayam Singh to explain why people are migrating to other states. While the BJP is still undecided whether or not to make corruption in the state government an issue, it has been in a double mind whether to play the Ayodhya card or win over non-Yadav OBCs.
It is not known whether Union home minister P. Chidambaram will take part in the UP election campaign after the court judgment. Though he may not be able to speak in Hindi, his select meetings could put the record straight on the spectrum issue.