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New Delhi: Both the
Congress and BJP are equally confident of sweeping the upcoming
elections in five states, but some say a Congress rout could lead
to an early Lok Sabha poll.
Balloting to pick new assemblies in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Punjab, Goa and Manipur in January-March will be crucial to all
political actors, but more so to the Congress party.
Despite battling a string of corruption allegations that have
sullied its image, the Congress is hopeful of a victory.
Congress spokesman Raashid Alvi said the Congress was confident of
retaining power in Goa and Manipur and forming governments in the
other states.
He did not rule out the possibility of the polls having a bearing
on the future direction of national politics.
"The outcome will not have an impact on the central government.
But state elections do indicate the direction of politics," Alvi
told IANS.
"This much is certain that the Congress will emerge as a big force
in the elections."
Bharatiya Janata Party's Siddharth Nath Singh was equally sure
that the Congress would go down.
"The slowdown in economy, crashing rupee and government's problems
with its allies... I feel circumstances are leading to mid-term
elections," he said. "It will not be surprising if these are held
in 2012."
There are takers to this idea.
Rising prices of essential items through this year and the war
over a proposed Lokpal -- within the political establishment and
with Anna Hazare and his supporters -- are bound to impact voter
preferences.
Siddharth Nath Singh said the BJP would do well in the elections.
The BJP is part of the Akali Dal-alliance in Punjab and it governs
Uttarakhand on its own.
Political analyst Rizwan Qaiser was sure that the coming electoral
battle would be a rehearsal for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The first of the state elections will be held in Manipur Jan 28,
and the process will end with Goa's balloting March 3.
All states will see one-day polling barring Uttar Pradesh, where
voting will be staggered over seven phases.
The results will be out March 4.
The most significant showdown will take place in Uttar Pradesh,
where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is intent on giving a new life
to his party vis-a-vis the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and
the Samajwadi Party.
The Congress finished fourth in the last assembly election.
The elections involve 137 million voters, and it will provide an
opportunity to the Congress to regain political momentum and
gather more leeway with assertive allies such as Trinamool
Congress.
Alvi refrained from commenting on the possibility of the Congress
expanding the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition its
heads after the polls to cut its dependability on Trinamool
Congress.
"Our issues with allies are an internal matter. I would not like
to comment," he said.
The five state elections will be equally important for Hazare, who
has vowed to campaign against the Congress everywhere over its
failure to unveil, in his words, a "strong Lokpal" to combat
corruption.
Later this year, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will elect new
assemblies.
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