Can the comprehensive welfare initiatives introduced by the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan secure victory for the Congress party in the state? Or will the ongoing Gehlot-Pilot conflict undermine the party's prospects in the upcoming assembly polls on November 25? Here is a SWOT analysis of the Congress, examining the party's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Strengths:
1. Three-time Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's extensive outreach and mass connection, reinforced by a well-structured outreach program, position the party for another opportunity to seize power.
2. Despite being marginalised within the state, former Deputy Minister Sachin Pilot's charisma still holds significant influence, especially among the youth.
The party has an extensive list of welfare schemes, including a Rs 25-lakh medical insurance program, an urban employment scheme akin to MGNREGA, affordable cooking gas cylinders for Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries, provision of free smartphones for women, and a social security allowance.
Weaknesses:
1. The ongoing infighting between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot has remained public throughout the Congress's term. The current truce may not be adequate to offset the damage.
2. The party's organisational structure could have been more robust. The appointment of many state unit office bearers and district presidents occurred only in July, leaving them with limited time to acclimate before the elections.
3. The Congress has encountered difficulties countering allegations of corruption, including those related to exam paper leaks. Claims by a dismissed minister of possessing a "red diary" containing evidence of financial irregularities have added to the challenges.
Opportunities:
1. The reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme should provide an advantage to the ruling Congress in Rajasthan, benefiting approximately seven lakh employees and their families.
2. Divisions within the BJP's state unit could work in favour of the Congress, particularly if supporters of Vasundhara Raje do not actively support the BJP campaign.
3. The party could make gains in select districts by convincing voters that the BJP at the Centre is not prioritising the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project.
Threats:
1. Anti-incumbency poses a formidable challenge for the ruling Congress in Rajasthan, given the state's history of alternating between the BJP and the Congress in recent decades.
2. The BJP is likely to bring up cases of communal violence in the state while accusing the state government of appeasement toward Muslims.
3. The presence of Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on the Rajasthan political landscape could potentially split the Muslim vote in certain constituencies.
4. Additionally, the newly formed Bhartiya Adivasi Party could present challenges in the tribal areas, making the electoral landscape more competitive for the Congress.
(Edited by : Ayushi Agarwal)
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