Congress banks on Verma's backward appeal

A section of the party has turned against the Union minister

When Congress General Secretary and party’s star campaigner Rahul Gandhi had visited this region, which has a sizeable number of OBC voters, last month, several old Congressmen had held protests before him in his election meetings, against official party candidates, much to the embarrassment of party leaders.

These old Congress leaders protested against Union Minister for Steel Beni Prasad Verma and had accused him of sidelining them while promoting his own loyalists, who had crossed over with him from the Samajwadi Party.

They demanded action against Verma and the replacement of official nominees from several seats. Verma was heckled at some meetings and at one rally, he was forced to leave the stage.

The Congress high command, acting swiftly, expelled six leaders from the region and did not replace any candidate sending the strong message of not wanting to offend Verma when only he could ensure the party’s success.

The Congress has no other OBC leader, who matches Verma’s stature in the districts of Barabanki, Baharaich, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Gonday, Faizabad, Balrampur and the party fully realizes his importance.

The Congress had surprised everyone by bagging six seats – Barabanki, Kheri, Baharaich, Balrampur, Gonda and Faizabad – in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. It was, according to the party sources, largely owing to the shift of OBC voters to the Congress. Verma was given the credit for this shift.

This time, too, the Congress is heavily banking on Verma for success in the region which goes to the polls on February 8 next in the first phase. Verma’s imprint is visible in the Congress’s list where a large number of OBC candidates have found mention.

“Verma was responsible for the Samajwadi Party’s good performance in this region but after his exit, the SP has not been able to repeat its performance,” says a SP leader in Lucknow.

The people of the region, especially the “Kurmi” community, to which Verma belongs, also feel in the same way. “Verma is the only prominent kurmi leader…the community rallies around him in the polls,” says Daya Ram Verma, a resident of the district.

Verma’s personal stake in the assembly polls in the state, is very high. His son Rakesh Verma is contesting from Dar­yabad assembly seat. “A good performance in the region will only enhance Verma’s stature in the Congress,” the leaders said.

The union minister has been working hard oil for the success of the party in this region.

He has been touring different constituencies and holding meetings of the community leaders for the past several days.

But the challenges before Verma are not small. A section of the Congress leaders in the state has turned against him for accommodating his own supporters in the Congress at the cost of the old party workers and leaders.

These leaders feel that too much importance to Verma could turn away the old party supporters which could cost the party dearly in the polls. At least one prominent Lok Sabha member from the region had openly opposed Verma’s style of functioning.
Verma is, however, undeterred and is certain that the Congress will fare well in this region.  It remains to be seen if Verma will have the last laugh.