For the Congress, the year 2010 should be one of consolidation and growth. The party ended the year 2009 with celebrating its 125th birthday. The mood was a little sombre because of the Telangana mess and Jharkhand fiasco. But the speeches made by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh indicated that the Congress is serious about putting things in order.

The Congress will complete its organisational elections by March. Sonia Gandhi will be re-elected as the president. She has put on hold many changes in the party in view of the elections but a new team will be in place after March, which may have the stamp of not only Sonia Gandhi but also of her son and AICC General secretary Rahul Gandhi. It is to be seen whether Rahul takes up more responsibility beyond the Youth Congress and the NSUI.

The other priority for the Congress is to make up its mind about its alliances. The crucial Bihar elections are due in 2010 and the party has to decide whether to repeat its successful U.P experiment or go for alliances with the RJD and LJP or even with JD (U). Rejuvenation of the party in Bihar will enthuse the Congress workers elsewhere as without U.P and Bihar, there can be no Congress revival.

As far as the UPA Government is concerned, the most challenging task in 2010 is to host the Commonwealth Games in October. With preparations for the Games lagging behind the schedule, the organisers will have to work at breakneck speed to make it a success. It is not sure if Queen Elizabeth 11, as Head of the Commonwealth, will inaugurate the Games or depute a member of the royal family. The challenge for India is that apart from the successful conduct of the Games, Indian sportsmen should also perform well.

The government is in a catch 22 situation regarding creation of a separate Telangana state. Added to the embarrassment were allegations about the Andhra Pradesh Governor N.D. Tiwari's sex life, which ended in his resignation. Unless the Centre decides to impose President's rule to cool passions and restore law and order, the Telangana agitation may become more violent. The Government may also face a domino effect of similar demand for smaller states from Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, Harit Pradesh, Bundelkhand, and Saurashtra among other dozen states. If a second State Reorganisation Commission is set up, these demands could be referred to it.

At the foreign policy level, the visit, next year, of United States President Barack Obama will be a big event. This may take Indo-US relations to a higher level and deepen the ties. President Pratibha Patil's China visit is also equally important which is likely to take place in May next. The recent strains in the Sino- Indian relations are likely to be ironed out by a high-level visit.

The opposition may gear up next year. The New Year begins with the generation next taking over in the main opposition BJP. It has a new President in Nitin Gadkari. Sushma Swaraj is the new Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Arun Jaitley the Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha. It is to be seen whether Gadkari will be up to the mark in rebuilding the party along with his new team. Gadkari is new to Delhi and his challenges are many. His first task is to establish his authority within the party. He also has the tough task of sorting out the internal quarrels in the party in the BJP-ruled states. Another major task is to ensure that the NDA remains together. The Bihar elections will be the first acid test in this regard as it is not sure whether the JD (U) will remain with the NDA.

The weakened Left parties are getting ready to face the 2011 polls in West Bengal and Kerala. The CPI-M is the worst hit with the onslaught of Trinamool Congress. In Kerala the Chief Minister and the state unit president do not see eye to eye. In West Bengal the party has to decide whether Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya will lead in 2011. Left unity also needs to be forged as the four left parties are not on the same wavelength on many issues.

Tamil Nadu may see a change as Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has announced his decision to retire in 2010 June. If he does so, will Karunanidhi's sons, Stalin and Azhagiri come to an understanding or will they quarrel? Karunanidhi's bidding good-bye will have its impact on the fortunes of AIADMK and other smaller parties too. The Congress also has to think of its alliance partner then.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan will have to revitalise their parties if they have to be relevant in Bihar politics. Lalu is quite pleased with his party's performance in Jharkhand but capturing power in Bihar will be his one- point programme. Paswan, who has come a cropper, will have to fight for his survival in Bihar polls.

The U.P scenario will be quite interesting as Congress, BSP, SP and BJP are fighting for their space in the state. With no elections in the near future, they will have to concentrate on reviving their party fortunes and bide time.

In short, 2011 will be a dress rehearsal for 2011, when Assembly elections to a number of states are due. (IPA Service)