Even as the frenzy over the general elections gathers momentum, local parties are gearing up for simultaneous assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. Later this year, assembly polls are due in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh. the Congress has high stakes as it is ruling in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, while being in coalition with Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra. While Odisha is with Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim is with Sikkim Democratic Front. There are no indications that chief ministers of Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh wanting to dissolve their assemblies earlier so that the state elections can be synchronised with national elections.
The prospects of proposed division of Andhra Pradesh into two states of Telengana and Seemandhra being dim, the election commission has made preparations for holding the elections in the larger state, which is riven by bitter intra regional rivalries and hatreds. With the open defiance of Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy against the high command decision to create Telangana, the situation is extremely difficult for the Congress, which has ruled the state for ten years now. The chief minister's rebellion is a setback as the party got divided two years ago with the creation of YSR congress, formed by rebel Jaganmohan Reddy. The resignation dramas of MPs, MLAs and ministers from both Telengana and Seemandhra regions have sapped the vigour and unity of the Congress party.
But there is no party which has widespread support in the undivided state. Both YSR Congress and Telugu Desham are vying for dominance in Seemandhra region because of their campaign for a united state. Telugu Desham's Chandrababu Naidu is trying for an election alliance with the BJP, wanting to capture the old glory days of his association with Atal Behari Vajpayee. But the BJP which has come out strongly in support of the separation moves, is now trying to balance the two sides by saying it wants a better deal for Seemandhra. However it is afraid of falling between two stools as the Telengana Rashtra Samithi and even the Congress have better advantage in Telengana region.
In Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has completed 15 years of uninterrupted rule. He had won in 2009 despite separating from long term ally BJP. His main opponent is the Congress which has failed to get its act together in successive assembly and Lok Sabha elections. after throwing out BJP from the alliance, the only other hiccup for Patnaik was a rebellion by his associate turned rebel Pyarimohan Mahapatra. But Patnaik squashed the revolt with an iron hand. But the BJP which had enjoyed power as a junior partner for two terms is now trying for a seat adjustment with Mahapatra. In both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha it is also banking on getting some assembly seats on the strength of Narendra Modi's campaign for prime ministership. Political leaders in Delhi are reconciled to another victory of Sikkim democratic front under Pawan Chamling who has ruled for twenty years without a break.
Another state where the ruling dispensation has been in power for 15 continuous years is Maharashtra, though the Congress has had four chief ministers. The party's alliance with partner Nationalist Congress Party is firm for the Lok Sabha elections, though speculation swirls that NCP president Sharad Pawar is keeping his options open for the assembly elections. The coalition had benefited from the split in Shiv Sena earlier. The BJP has decided to go ahead with its alliance with Shiv Sena led by Uddbhav Thackerey, son of the legendary founder Bal Thackerey. In fact this will be the first election in the state without the presence of senior Thackerey. On the other hand the rebel party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by Raj Thackerey will go it alone and threatens to spoil the show for the cousin. The Congress feels its Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is the best bet.
Similarly, the party is banking on Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Haryana who has won two consecutive elections for the Party. Even though he has strong critics in PCC President Shelja and AICC General Secretary Virendra Singh, he is perceived to be very close to Congress high command. His traditional opponent is former Omprakash Chautala of Indian National Lok Dal, who was sentenced by a Delhi Court for fostering a teacher recruitment scam. There is also challenge from Haryana Janhit Congress led by Kuldeep Singh Bishnoi, son of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, who has tied up with BJP. Haryana is also the home state of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party is concentrating on Haryana, which surrounds Delhi on three sides. In Arunachal Pradesh, the Congress is banking on its Chief Minister Nabam Tuki who became Chief Minister little over two years ago.
Tailpiece: While top political leaders are busy with political discussions on the shape of fronts to fight the general elections, ordinary MPs are even busier. With about three weeks left for the model code of conduct to be enforced, MPs are running from one ministry to another to get schemes sanctioned, funds released and work of their supporters done. UPA ministers too are busy clearing files, which otherwise would go under the scrutiny of election commission from March.