Why Congress chief Kharge summoned Karnataka, Himachal CMs to Delhi?

New Delhi: With crucial Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana just months away, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had summoned Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Himachal Pradesh counterpart Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to the national capital last week. And the agenda was clear, to ask them to prioritize implementation of promises made by the grand old party in its manifesto ahead of polls in these crucial states.

Sources stated that the two chief ministers were told that they need to implement various welfare schemes, including free bus travel, subsidized food grains, free electricity and return to the old pension scheme on a priority basis.

The two CM's were asked to ensure delivery of these promises and freebies as the party hoped to use the success in Himachal and Karnataka in nationwide poll campaigning later. "Kharge has told Sukhu and Siddaramaiah that their hard work could lead to a turnaround in the Congress' fortunes ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and they needed to make it happen urgently," sources said.

The call to the two recently elected Congress chief ministers came as the grand old party wants these state governments to implement the poll promises made by the party in its manifesto ahead of crucial Assembly polls. The freebies and welfare measures promised by the Congress have apparently found a resounding success and an appeal amongst the masses. And the senior leadership of the party feels that if these two states are able to successfully implement the welfare measures promised by the Congress, the party can project this success amongst the voters in the forthcoming Assembly polls and 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Sukhu and Siddaramaiah also discussed organizational issues with the party chief Kharge, including possible Cabinet reshuffle.

After a win in Karnataka, a confident Congress feels that it can secure Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and become a principal opponent to K Chandrashekar Rao in Telangana if it is able to promise voters a replication of welfare measures in these states as well.

With just a few months to go for these crucial Assembly polls the Congress governments are now likely to be completely focused on successful implementation of welfare measures. “The party feels that these freebies can help it in the forthcoming polls. The biggest benefit is likely to come from the promise of return to the old pension scheme as this is an emotive issue concerning a huge and influential part of the population,” sources added.

The Congress’ top leadership feels that it would be very difficult for the BJP to counter the grand old party’s welfare and subsidy based promises.  The saffron unit in these states is also facing major factionalism in its local units in these states.

By successful implementation of its electoral promises the Congress is also trying to repeat the 2018-like embarrassment for BJP where the saffron front was unable to form a government in any of these states. The BJP was only able to form a government in Madhya Pradesh after engineering a split in the Congress with the help of Jyotiaditya Scindia.

The Congress leadership in these poll bound states has already launched a political offensive and promised freebies like free bus travel, subsidized power, food grains and other welfare measures. These promises had paid the grand old party rich dividends in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

The Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana are being treated by the saffron front and Congress as a semifinal for the next general elections in the country. Both parties are trying hard to score a victory in these states as it is expected to set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.