Byelections in Punjab and Kerala are crucial for Priyanka Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal’s political futures.
NEW DELHI: The results of byelections for two seats in Punjab and Kerala have become very important for two prominent leaders— Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Priyanka has invested considerable effort to win the Nilambur seat in Kerala. She personally campaigned there.
Nilambur falls under her parliamentary constituency, Wayanad. Therefore, Priyanka has taken no chances and worked hard to ensure her party’s victory in this byelection, hoping to create a favourable atmosphere ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled eight months later. The byelection was held due to the resignation of P.V. Anwar of the ruling Left alliance. Anwar contested again with the support of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Although the Left won this seat in the previous election, Kerala’s political landscape has changed significantly over the last four years.
The BJP’s support base has increased, and the party is contesting strongly. Priyanka, the second most powerful Congress leader, was elected MP from Wayanad, succeeding her brother Rahul Gandhi. The involvement of TMC has further added intrigue to the Nilambur contest. The main battle is between Congress and the Left, but the result will reveal the real political strength of the parties. The byelection results will be announced on Monday. Priyanka understands that a loss would invite criticism against her leadership, which is why she actively campaigned to ensure her candidate’s victory. There is no doubt that a win will revive Congress’s morale, as the party has faced continuous setbacks in the last two Kerala elections and desperately needs a victory.
On the other hand, a win is equally important for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as this seat has traditionally been a Left stronghold. In Punjab, the political future of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal is at stake in the Ludhiana West seat byelection. After AAP lost the Delhi elections, the party declared Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for this seat. Arora has also been assured a ministerial post in the Punjab government once he wins. The party’s strategy is to have Kejriwal contest the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by Arora’s resignation, allowing him to begin his political second innings from the upper house.
Arora is a prominent industrialist, and the party has taken good care of him. In exchange for the Rajya Sabha seat, he will receive a ministerial post. To secure Kejriwal’s future, the AAP and the Mann government have put in all efforts to ensure victory. Decisions like forcibly ending the farmers’ movement were taken to appease traders. Kejriwal has remained forceful in his approach. However, the contest is multi-cornered. Congress, BJP, and Akali Dal are all putting in their best efforts to challenge AAP.
There are two key interests in the election results: whether AAP can win the seat and who will become the secondlargest party. Typically, the ruling party does not win byelections. If AAP fails to win, it will not only complicate the Mann government’s situation but also put Kejriwal’s political future in doubt. Regarding the second position, sources say BJP’s vigorous campaign might surprise many.
Even if BJP does not win, becoming the second-largest party would be a significant achievement. The party deployed two chief ministers and several senior leaders for campaigning. With Punjab elections scheduled in two years, a strong BJP performance will boost the party’s morale. Now, it remains to be seen which way the voters of Ludhiana West lean. On the result day, June 23, it will become clear whether Kejriwal celebrates or another party emerges victorious.