Cover Story

SONIA GANDHI LEADS POLL CAMPAIGN

Dr. Ravni Thakur

Elections in parts of Bihar, Haryana and Jharkhand are underway at the moment. The three states once again represent a test of the Congress ideology vs that of the NDA. Once again, the people have been asked to choose between issues and between differing visions for the nation. The Congress vision stands for knitting the different cultural, religious and linguistic strands that make up the country. It is an ideology that believes in inclusiveness, not just of people but also of classes. It is an ideology that has taken from India's own culture and allowed the growth of new ideas. That is why, the one thing that has made us a power to be reckoned with is our science and technology. Nehruji started it by giving our universities that freedom and Rajivji continued it with his understanding of modernity and with our Information Technology revolution.

That is why the Congress has made the equitable distribution of the fruits of reform its main agenda. "Congress ka haath, Aam aadmi ke saath", is not just empty rhetoric. The Congress Party knows that unless the standards of living of the large population of rural India improves, economic reforms will lose their significance and be difficult to maintain. Yet, at the same time the Party also believes in a democratic system and plurality. The NDA in contrast, stands for homogenization and control. It believes in coercive politics. In violently browbeating minorities, as Gujarat under Modi showed, and in trying to subvert the ethos of both Hinduism and democracy. The Congress Party also stands for the idea of equal opportunities. This is reflected in the importance being given to primary education, development of infrastructure and in using the government's money for the support of social development projects. This is the CMP charter that the Congress believes in. No growth without equity.

Like in the Lok Sabha elections, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, as President of the Congress Party has taken the lead in propagating the aims and goals of the Congress Party. She has campaigned extensively in Haryana and taken the Chautala government to task for corruption and misgovernance. As she said, "The time has come to throw out this corrupt and zaalim hakumat." She has emphasized the issues of the peasantry in Haryana and promised that charges against farmers that were initiated by the Chautala government will be taken back. For Shrimati Gandhi, the issue of good governance has always been of great importance. And good governance means ensuring that the fundamental economic and political rights of all the citizens of India are respected irrespective of class, creed or colour.

This is essentially true for a state like Jharkhand, where a large tribal population has been neglected through centuries. And today, the Naxalites and Maoists are threatening to erode the tenuous peace that exists in the region. It is only by giving the people of this region their just due, that we will be able to maintain the fundamentals of Indian democracy. As Smt. Gandhi said in her election speech in Jharkhand:

The State of Jharkhand was created to meet the aspirations of the tribal people. Unfortunately it fell under the government of people who did nothing for them.

In Jharkhand the Congress is determined to ensure that tribal lands are given back to the tribals and genuine development becomes the order of the government. We ned to ensure that the VHP which is targeting tribals and attempting to push their own ideological agenda does not succeed. We must ensure that the people get real representation for their needs. In Bihar too, Smt. Gandhi has placed before the people the issues of corruption and underdevelopment. She has pointed out how if the Congress comes to power with its secular allies, it will ensure that development becomes the mantra in Bihar. She has also talked about the lack of law and order and emphasized the need for the State government to ensure the safety of all its citizens.

The Congress Party has not only a clear ideology, in its election campaign it is also extremely well managed. It has put in place good organizers and media managers who are able to coordinate and manage all the different needs of a successful election campaign. This is done by a careful vetting of those who are given tickets and more importantly by ensuring that factionalism and dissidence does not spoil our chances of winning.

The Congress Party does not believe in totalitarian politics. It does not believe in violence. But it does believe in the constitution of the country and its principles. These are what has made India the nation it is. `Democratic,' where the rule of law prevails and people have the right to their individuality in belief and ideology. Our Democracy is what makes us proud today when we compete economically with countries like China. Free and fair elections is the basis of a Parliamentary elections and India has proved over and over again, how despite our problems, democracy is not an idea only relevant to the developed world.

Once again, our states, our people and our country needs to choose between rhetoric, ideologies and the future of our country. We are a nation state that came into being after a long practical and philosophical struggle. It was a struggle that shaped the contours of our nation. It is a struggle that the Congress Party continues because of the lead taken by our party President. Today we face a new geopolitical environment. A new world of international relations. This demands a new mind set. One where we can compete with the world, and bring our people up to a higher standard of living. Yet we must also ensure that we don't derail the reform process that has once again brought India the dignity and respect as a great nation that it deserves. We must not be held to ransom by old ideologies and even older ways of administration and economics. Our aim is to raise the standard of living in the country by ensuring that development targets and goals are met consistently. Smt. Gandhi stands for this middle path. One that is not dominated by ideologies, either of the left or the right.

SCREENING PANELS FOR BIHAR, HARYANA AND JHARKHAND

Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi is pleased to constitute the Screening Committees for Bihar, Haryana and Jharkhand Assembly elections with the following persons, an AICC press released by the AICC general Secretary, Smt. Ambika Soni, on 29 December, 2004 said.

 

BIHAR:
Smt. Mohsina Kidwai	-	CWC Member, Chairperson
Shri M.L. Fotedar	-	CWC member
Shri G. Venkatswamy	-	Ex-Union Minister
Shri Harikesh Bahadur	-	In-charge, Bihar
Shri Ram Jatan Sinha	-	PCC President, Bihar
Shri Vijay Shankar Dubey	-	CLP Leader, Bihar
HARYANA:
Shri Motilal Vora	-	CWC Member, Chairman
Shri Ram Niwas Mirdha	-	Ex-Union Minister
Shri P.M. Sayeed	-	Union Minister
Shri H. Hanumanthapa	-	Ex-MP
Shri Janardan Dwivedi	-	General Secretary,
		In-charge
Ch. Bhajan Lal	-	PCC President
Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav	-	Dy. CLP Leader
JHARKHAND:
Smt. Mohsina Kidwai	-	CWC Member, Chairperson
Shri M.L. Fotedar	-	CWC Member
Shri G. Venkatswamy	-	Ex-Union Minister
Shri Harikesh Bahadur	-	In-charge, Jharkhand
Smt. Sushila Kerketta	-	PCC President, Jharkhand
Shri Rajender Singh	-	CLP Leader, Jharkhand