With the Election Commission gearing up to announce the Gujarat assembly election dates, things are getting really interesting in Gujarat. Even amidst news of Vijay Rupani government doling out last-minute freebies to appease disgruntled groups in the state, a leaked CCTV footage brought the hour-long meeting between Congress scion Rahul Gandhi and Patidar leader Hardik Patel to the forefront.
While it is not surprising to see the two coming together for a secret meeting, it is however surprising to see the two leaders denying the alleged meeting and that too when the CCTV footage is proof enough. The question therefore is not why the two held a “secret” meeting for that is rather obvious: ‘The Congress, after all, needed an ally in Gujarat to tackle the state that is unequivocally acknowledged as a BJP stronghold since 1995’.
Of course, with the Congress having lost their footing in most parts of the country; the idea, however improbable, of defeating Narendra Modi on his own turf naturally has the Congress scion salivating. Of course, that is easier said than done! After all, with the development agenda already hijacked by the BJP, what promise could the Congress offer to the general public?!? This is where the meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Hardik Patel should take prominence.
If we look at the meeting rationally and in perspective of its timing, it establishes a couple of things: 1) the Congress is on a recruitment mission whereby they are hoping to rope in local leaders such as Hardik Patel who can at least give Congress the chance to fight it out in Gujarat and 2) Congress is back to its age-old vote-bank political tactics, that is, “appeasement” in an attempt to secure votes.
Thus, neither of the two goals are actually surprising to say the least. After all, Congress has to think of a political strategy if it wants to beat the BJP in their own stronghold. And as far as Congress is concerned, it has, since independence, been relying on a single political strategy — that of appeasement politics as a way to maintain its vote-bank.
Then again, why would Congress change its strategy?!? It has, after all, worked in the past. Why won’t it work again?!?
The reality is that people themselves are not willing to give up on preferential treatment, even if it comes on the cost of others (and sometimes even themselves). The reality is that for short-term petty gains, they are willing to sacrifice long-term development. And Congress is simply looking to take advantage of this simple human failing.
What the people need to remember, however, is that reservation politics does not help them or their community in the long-run. Think about it: If the benchmark is lowered for them, how can they ever strive to make it over the mark? If the cut-offs for their children is lowered, where is the motivation for their children to work harder? And finally, if they give up on the concept of meritocracy, how will their children ever develop their merit?!? Now that is a question that no politician would be willing to answer!
