Sharique N Siddiquie
Emergence of Congress
Last time, it was in the historic elections of 1984 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi that Congress was at the driving seat in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh after winning 83 out of 85 constituencies. After that it was the decline that almost became the fate of Congress for more than two decades.
So, this time in Lok Sabha polls, the results shocked everyone. Congress under the formidable leadership of Rahul Gandhi not only managed to get 18% of total vote share but also got 19 seats, a number which is double from its previous tally.
The performance of Congress was supplemented by the failure of Mandir politics of BJP, Mandal politics of Samajwadi Party and social engineering of BSP. While the Congress emerged triumphant, the much touted BSP suffered badly.
Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s house burnt
The politics of Uttar Pradesh stooped to a new low this year when Congress’ state chief, Rita Bahuguna Joshi suggested that “Congress would give Rs 1 crore in compensation if Mayawati gets raped”. The comments drew strong opposition from the ruling BSP whose supporters also allegedly burnt her house.
The controversy started after Mayawati announced Rs 25,000 compensation for a Dalit rape victim that was followed by Rita Joshi’s remarks. Rita had not only lost her house but also had to face 14 days judicial custody and the remarks also angered Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Mayawati and Kanshiram statues
In a country where statues are worshipped, Maywati tried to immortalize herself even before her death. The result was the erection statues of Mayawati and Kasnshiram across Uttar Pradesh. The incredible act of self praise angered Supreme Court that stalled all such construction.
Ironically, immediately after Supreme Court stalled the Rs 2600 crore statue project, UP Government demands Rs. 7789.14 crore relief packages from Centre for drought affected districts of the state.
The matter is still pending in court and the tax payers of Uttar Pradesh are wondering about the expenditure of their hard earned money.
Mulayam Singh and Kalyan Singh relationship
This year witnessed the oldest political foes becoming greatest of friends and then turning foes again. The two political stalwarts of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kalyan Singh buried their hatchet to come together immediately before Lok Sabha elections.
It was considered to be a win-win situation for both Mulayam Singh and Kalyan Singh, with Mulayam trying to consolidate Lodh vote bank with the support of Kalyan after his Muslim votebank shifted towards BSP and in return making Kalyan’s son Rajveer Singh, party’s General Secretary.
On the other hand Kalyan Singh tried to consolidate his position and tried to gain his lost ground by apologising for Babri demolition for which he was once deemed heroism.
But this friendship of opportunism couldn’t continue for long as immediately after Lok Sabha polls SP parted ways with Kalyan with party MP Jaya Prada claiming that they used him to counter BJP in the state.
Now, Mulayam Singh and Kalyan Singh are foes again and the politics of Uttar Pradesh set to heat up as Kalyan announcing the formation of his own party in early 2010.
Aarushi case still haunts
The infamous Aarushi Talwar murder case in Noida came back to haunt this year after the recovery of her cellphone after almost 16 months of this incident.
Publicised as breakthrough evidence, the cellphone failed to provide any clue regarding the murder proving it to be a damp squib. The two suspects arrested after the recovery, Ramphool and Kusum, were let off by the police after initial investigations failed to link them with the double murder.
The case is still a mystery with no hope of getting solved anytime soon.
Varun Gandhi anti-Muslim rant
The year saw the rise and fall of an unlikely political hero of BJP bearing a Gandhi surname. Varun Gandhi was nowhere in the national political scene till he threatened to cut hands of all who dare to point a finger towards Hindus during the campaigning for his maiden electoral venture from his mother’s constituency, Pilibhit.
The repercussions were hard and strong, much beyond the control of the budding political talent. So, not only he faced jail for his remarks but his own party, BJP that initially supported his comments, stepped aside from the controversy in the name of healthy secularism.
Though, he is now at the political sidelines, a talent like Varun Gandhi is hard to contain. He will surely resurrect but when and how, only time will tell.
