Reactions

(Sonia Gandhi's residence)

Congress was in shock when the daughter of the party president, and president of Youth Congress, suddenly registered her own party and left behind a resignation letter in her bedrrom.

For this Lok Sabha election, Shreya was congress's poster girl. Every campaigning poster throughout the country had her face, bigger than Sonia and Rahul.

But after taking the advantage of all the publicity, she went ahead and made her own party, and became Anti-Congress.

The media has been asking them about how and why it happened, and they had to response with clichéd differences in ideology.

As Sonia finished watching her interview on TV, she sighed heavily. Shreya would have undoubtedly become the party president in some years. But she had to go out of her way and create a new party, just some months before the elections.

Many party members who were dissatisfied with Congress have also joined her party, though most of them are ground workers who would have taken years to rise in ranks. The older ones were either too egoistic to take an entrance exam, or were rejected due to them being 'corrupt'.

It was basically a party of the young, which Shreya could control more easily.

"So, what should we do?"

A senior member asked in the meeting.

Many politicians in congress have started verbally abusing Shreya on media, and it is only giving them a bad name.

'She doesn't dress like a neta.'

'She is flaunting her wealth by wearing jewellery!'

'Traitor, who used us for her campaign!'

'She is snatching our ground workers!'

And while the main committee which is in power in Congress hasn't said anything, they are also very dissatisfied. And wanted some action. Despite being almost a billionaire, she hasn't given the Congress party a single rupee in funding.

"First, we have to stop our politicians for making those remarks. It is only harming us."

They all agreed on that. It's not like they can control what everyone says. Firing them is also not an option since most of them bring money to the party, and even store black money so that attention is not drawn.

"Well, we can only scold them."

Not everyone was keen on regulating the party members.

*NOKIA ringtone*

Suddenly, Sonia Gandhi's phone rang. It was Shreya who was calling her.

"Excuse me."

Sonia went out of the meeting room, and picked up the phone.

"...Why did you do it?"

"...I can't just follow your 'strategies' and do as you wish. I am tired of it."

"You want to fight in state elections? You should have just said it!"

"Don't act like I didn't. And it's not like I betrayed the party or anything. I tried to bring transparency, but who was against it? Instead of an inevitable power struggle in the party, its better that I start anew. You do as you see fit. I will do as I see fit.

I am hanging up-"

"Wait!"

"Yes?"

"Let Priyanka join your party."

"No. I don't want corruption scandals. And brother-in-law is trash."

"Shreya!"

"They say that a father should stop scolding son when he can wear his shoes. The same is true for mother and daughter.

I will advise you to let Rahul start from the ground up instead of handing him everything.

That's probably the last advice I am giving you.

Bye bye."

"Sh-Shreya! Don't hang up! Hey-!"

And Shreya hung up.

"This girl!"

Furious, Sonia marched into the meeting room.

"Treat Shreya and her party as an enemy party, just like BJP. No need to give her special consideration just because she is my daughter. Let's target her connections to US."

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BJP has gained an unexpected advantage in this election. Not only Congress will get very harsh criticism, since Congress's future president separated from the party itself, and put serious allegations of genocide.

"We should also raise the issue of Ram Mandir and Kashmiri Hindus."

Narendra Modi, Gujarat's current CM gave a suggestion.

But the senior leadership wasn't ready for it. They have raised the issues in the past, and these issues didn't really bring much success. Muslim's considered BJP as a Hindu party, and Hindus voted for Congress.

That's why, they are intent on 'India Shining'. And,

"That will drive away many of our coalition parties. We can't afford to lose Tamil Nadu seats."

"Then how about considering BP to join NDA? It is only contesting in Maharashtra and Karnataka. It's better to combine our forces than to compete against each other and let UPA win."

Vajpayee ji said, "I have already talked to her about this. She wants to contest elections without any alliances. She said she will consider joining NDA if it means stopping UPA."

"I still think that we should also raise the issue of Ram Mandir and Kashmiri Hindus more seriously. Also, make scrapping of Article 370 our main agenda."

"While I agree with those matters, our coalition will break apart if it happens. Let's do more infrastructure and economic development in this term, and raise these issues for the bext term when our position is good enough."

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Many Kashmiri Hindus who had survived and fled the genocide joined the BP.

On 31st January, a candle march will start from Mumbai to Delhi through Bengaluru. It will start from Shreya's rally in Mumbai, and will end at the doorsteps of Parliament and Supreme Court.

And no one will be paid for it, unlike every political party does.

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Countrywide, the reactions were very mixed.

The political environment is not really loud, given that on one side there is Atal ji, and on the other side it is Sonia Gandhi. Both major parties are playing it safe afterall.

But BP is being bold. Raising voice against the government, and even media and courts.

While the manifesto didn't state Ram Mandir, the interview showed that BP is in support of both Ram Mandir, and Krishna Mandir, while not being too aggressive about it by saying, 'Mandir wahi banega'.

It also is raising voice against Tripple Talaq, Child Marriage, and bringing uniformity to the laws.

In the muslim community itself, many, especially women, are in favour of abolishing of Tripple Talaq and Child Marriage. But, bringing uniformity in laws is something that they don't want.

As for the Hindu community, it has brought the issue of genocide of Kashmiri Hindus as a uniting force. It is still very much divided, but is shifting towards BP gradually.

As India as a whole, the transparency in BP is its selling point. It didn't shy away from releasing its foundation expenditure, which was mostly done by Future Financing, 90% of which is owned by Shreya herself. Moreover, not taking in anyone with criminal record is a plus point.

For Maharashtra and Karnataka, from where BP will be contesting, the manifesto is very development based. There is no mention of Maratha reservation or Kannada protection.

Mainly focusing on textile and manufacturing industries, standardised roads everywhere without potholes, water harvesting, and most importantly, flood management and solving rising housing prices.

And turning Mumbai and Bengaluru into Singapore and Tokyo of the world.

Though whether people are willing to trust a new party or not, and are willing to change their traditional votes for development will only be revealed with the election results.