When HD Kumaraswamy took the oath of Chief Minister of Karnataka, the leaders of almost all the political parties except the BJP flew to Bangalore. They posed the common front against the BJP and displayed the much-needed solidarity. One of the photos that has gone viral is the photo showing clear affection between two leading politician women in India: Mayawati and Sonia Gandhi. The photo is important for Indian politics.

Mayawati is the outcome of the Bahujan movement. She was elected as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh four times. She has created much hope in her skills in administration. The policies she launched in UP and the way she handled law and order situation in UP is an example of an efficient and committed politician.

Sonia Gandhi is an exceptional person as well. As a head of the UPA and the President of Congress, she could have easily become the Prime Minister of India. She braved all the odds after the assassination of her husband and fought the feudal structure within the congress and led it. The way she declined the power is an interesting part of her biography. It is said that she turned fully into social welfarist as is noted by the policies she encouraged in the UPA-II, the bills such as food security are the landmark examples of her change in stance over the welfare of people.

Both Mayawati and Sonia Gandhi survived in the field dominated by men and they both fought the patriarchy in both the party structures and outside. It depends on Sonia Gandhi and her commitment to social change if she can really push the issue of discrimination and fighting it as the core ideology of the congress party. If Sonia Gandhi whose consciousness is not colored by caste can really work with Mayawati to destroy the regime of “Brahminical Hindutva” led by Modi, she will have a chance to be a part of the social democracy in India.

Author – Mangesh Dahiwale

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