Congressmen in Uttar Pradesh are a worried lot. Those wanting to contest the next Assembly elections are even more upset.
“The spiralling prices and the recent petrol hike could spell disaster or the Congress in the UP Assembly elections that are exactly a year away. The common man is
crushing under the burden of rising prices and we are supposed to give an answer for what is happening. If prices are not controlled in the next few weeks, the Congress should forget about its mission 2012 in UP,” said a party MLA.
MLAs, MPs and senior party leaders attending the two day coordination committee meeting of the Congress have expressed serious concern over the prevailing situation. They have categorically informed their leaders that the party would not be able to get the advantage of the anti-incumbency factor that is building up against the Mayawati government if prices are not brought down.
“It is Mulayam Singh Yadav who will walk away with the advantage and we will be reduced to the status of a non-entity in the next elections. The issue of price rise affects everyone, cutting across caste and class lines and since the issue is getting bigger by the day, the reaction is also rising in proportion. It is high time that our leaders pulled up their socks if they do not wish to see a repeat of Bihar in UP,” said a former minister. Party leaders are equally worried about the scams and corruption cases that are tainting the image of UPA in its second term.
“In its first term, the USP of the Manmohan Singh government was a clean image but this time, developmental issues have taken a back seat and scams are tumbling out of the government’s closet. First it was the CWG, then came 2G and now Adarsh. When we go out in our constituencies, people question us. What do we say?” asked a senior leader. Party managers, however, made a desperate bid to cover up the situation and asked the leaders to inform the public about the compulsions that forced petrol price hike and also the state government’s failure to check hoarding of essential commodities.
However, the members were in no mood to listen. “When you contest elections, you cannot explain away harsh realities. We cannot expect the public to vote for us when we make them pay through their nose. We are aware that a wave is building up against the Congress on issues of inflation and corruption and unless someone pulls the brakes, there is little hope for the party in the next assembly elections,” a leader said. The party has decided to focus on the deteriorating law and order situation under Mayawati regime and on the organisational front, it was decided that the names of candidates would be finalised within the next three months so that candidates have sufficient time to prepare.