Capt govt’s popularity and credibility at stake
Party cannot afford to lose the quarterfinal before the halfyearly test of the 2019 general elections
CHANDIGARH: The bypoll to Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat on October 11 will be the first popularity test of the six-month-old Congress government after a stellar performance in the February state polls. More so, as the party’s performance had been impressive vis-à-vis other political parties in the Majha belt.
The victory in Punjab has been the only saving grace for the Congress in the recent elections after losing many states to the BJP, from Uttarakhand to Assam. A bypoll defeat can play a spoiler for the party ahead of the elections in Himachal, where it is in power, and Gujarat, where it is hoping to romp home after successive poll reverses, especially since byelections are usually won by the party in power.
The border district of Gurdaspur has a mix of Hindu and Sikh dominated seats with Pathankot district being a BJP stronghold. But the Congress votes came cutting across the religion barrier helping it win seven out of nine assembly segments in Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts that fall in the parliamentary constituency. Riding on its secular credentials, an emboldened Congress cannot afford to lose the quarterfinal before the halfyearly test of 2019.
Also at stake is the credibility of the Captain Amarinder Singh government that was propelled to power on populism, but now finds itself out of cash to fulfil its lofty poll promises, including debt waiver to farmers, hiked pensions and one job, per family.
While farm debt waiver remains on paper, the government has also not been able to ensure timely pensions and subsidised rations to beneficiaries. Re-verification of beneficiaries for both is on. The Congress had promised to add sugar and tea leaves to previous government’s dole of subsidised “atta-dal”. The verification of 87% blue card holders has been completed in Gurdaspur district but only 47% are getting only wheat. “The process to procure pulses, sugar and tea is on,” sources in food and supply department said.
The CM has also not gone after the Badal business empire, saying he won’t indulge in “vendetta politics”.
But it did come good on those high on symbolism, which needed no cash, such as doing away with red beacons, giving 33% reservation to women in government jobs and ending the halqa-incharge system. Did the government have more hits or misses, October 15 will tell, the day of counting of votes.
NOW, THE GOVT FINDS ITSELF OUT OF CASH TO FULFIL ITS LOFTY POLL PROMISES, INCLUDING DEBT WAIVER TO FARMERS, HIKED PENSIONS AND ONE JOB, PER FAMILY