Personal or political? What’s the reason behind Sonia Gandhi’s temporary shift to Rajasthan?

Senior Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is in poll-bound Rajasthan for a “personal” go to. The Congress has stated Gandhi has shifted base to keep away from the deteriorating air high quality in Delhi.

However, the political implications of her go to stay. Rajasthan goes to polls on 25 November, whereas the counting of votes will happen on 3 December. Gandhi’s journey isn’t perceived as merely private given the desert state’s custom of ousting the incumbent authorities since the Assembly elections in 1993.

What is Sonia Gandhi actually doing in Jaipur? Let’s strive to discover out.

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Sonia Gandhi in Jaipur

Sonia Gandhi and her son, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, arrived in Jaipur late on Tuesday (14 November) evening, together with All India Congress Committee (AICC) basic secretary KC Venugopal.

“It is a private visit. There is air pollution in Delhi, that’s why,” Venugopal stated when requested about the journey, in accordance to PTI.

Confirming the “personal” go to, senior social gathering chief Jairam Ramesh wrote on X, “Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party Sonia Gandhi is in Jaipur for the next few days to avoid the air pollution in New Delhi. It is a purely personal visit.”

He additionally stated that Rahul Gandhi will probably be primarily based in Jaipur and go for campaigning in Chhattisgarh on 15 November. The Wayanad MP will canvass in Rajasthan on 16, 19, 21 and 22 November, Ramesh wrote.

Sonia Gandhi has respiratory issues and has been urged by her medical doctors to briefly relocate to a spot with higher air high quality, reported NDTV.

“This is not the first time she has left Delhi to avoid pollution. She has asthma-related issues and tries to avoid pollution. In 2020, she went to Goa for weeks when there was severe pollution in Delhi,” a senior Congress chief instructed Hindustan Times (HT).

ALSO READ: Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: Will anti-incumbency throw out Congress from energy?

Political meanings of the go to

With simply days left for the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Sonia Gandhi’s journey is being seen by many as an try to fortify Congress’ prospects in the state.

As per a report in Moneycontrol, opinion polls present that the Congress is shedding the desert state to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Her journey additionally beneficial properties significance as Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s tussle along with his former deputy Sachin Pilot may damage the Grand Old Party’s possibilities in the state. While the two have saved their variations apart for the polls, their rift in addition to bids to current a united entrance proceed to garner headlines.

Rahul Gandhi, who was welcomed by each CM Gehlot and Pilot after he arrived in Jaipur on Thursday (16 November), instructed reporters, “We are not only seen together but we are also united. We will be together and Congress will sweep the elections here and win.”

This will probably be Rahul’s maiden campaigning in Rajasthan since the announcement of elections, famous India TV. He had addressed the state unit Congress staff in September after laying the basis stone for a celebration workplace constructing in Jaipur’s Mansarovar space.

While Congress basic secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has held a number of rallies in Rajasthan, her brother was specializing in different poll-bound states.

As per an Opinion piece in India Today, the Gandhi household “feel accountable” for the Rajasthan Congress and “somewhere feel responsible” for Gehlot taking on the chief ministerial publish after Congress’ victory in the 2018 Assembly polls regardless of Pilot having Rahul’s blessings.

However, a lot has modified since then. The Congress excessive command has been “upset” with CM Gehlot since his loyalists revolted in opposition to the social gathering’s directive to attend a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) assembly final September. The defiance of dozens of Rajasthan Congress MLAs had led to Gehlot retaining his publish as a substitute of turning into the subsequent social gathering president. It additionally upstaged the prime brass’ plan to elevate Pilot as the state CM.

Pilot, who led his personal failed riot in 2020, is again in the good graces of each Priyanka and Rahul after the CLP debacle, as per the Moneycontrol report. It can also be believed the Congress excessive command continues to be upset with Gehlot, who was in any other case thought-about a staunch loyalist of the Gandhis.

“Congress insiders say Sonia’s presence in Jaipur till 22-23 November, that is when the campaigning ends, is aimed at enthusing the Rajasthan party cadre, signalling to Gehlot and Pilot to give their best. In return, Rahul and Priyanka, who will be in attendance for Sonia, try to attract the voters with road shows and public meetings,” the India Today article talked about.

According to the Opinion piece, amid dismal findings of the ballot surveys, the Congress “under matriarch Sonia does not want to get the blame for not trying hard to retain Rajasthan”.

With inputs from businesses