Mounting Frustration Of Opposition Parties In India
Prof N.K. Singh
Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India
The Opposition is in total disarray after AAP biting the dust in Punjab and Goa, and Congress losing its family silver. It seems Modi is advancing rapidly towards Congress Mukt Bharat and Modi Yukt Bharat. Strange that wise and educated leaders of opposition are playing only negative game to wipe out Modi without any sensible agenda or strategy. For a democracy, the opposition is essential but it should play significant idea generation and evolve meaningful strategies rather than stalling the parliament for days without any sensible and nationally important programme.
In this column, I had written clearly that Modi is bound to lead the largest collection of legislator in Uttar Pradesh. No one had anticipated it except that most of them pronounced a hung assembly or SP or BSP sweep. Many theories were advanced in opposition to the BJP like ‘Bihar type situation’ etc. Even after the exit polls when some did indicate BJP leading, a national paper carried headline that ‘will it be a hung assembly’? So-called intellectual class that owes its dilapidated thinking to left plus minority vote bank shades of opinions ruled the roost. The great journalists and leaders failed to shake their fixed notions.
All type of class or caste analysis pervaded the critical space of the media. They were all living under the delusion of power regime doling out wishful thinking. No one, except in a few cases, rose above this self-imposed prison of Modi bashing. Unmindful, Modi continued his electoral strategy of ‘Sab ka saath sab ka vikas’ served with sniper fire of punching the opponents. Finally the avalanche of score was not even anticipated by the BJP itself and now Modi is in full command of four out of five states that went to polls and is all set to unleash a tornado for 2019.
After the battle, there is dust and smoke for the opposition parties who fail to even now frame a common approach. The Congress had faced worst debacle in Manipur and Goa due to its failure to manage the politics rather than machinations of Modi brigade. In Goa, there was internal difference of opinion in the Congress. When they could not persuade others, they started calling it a theft of the state from them. It was absolutely stupid response to a situation when they were talking something which even Supreme Court had turned down and resultant proof of majority was enough.
Now nothing is left for the Congress to gloat except Punjab. Rahul Gandhi refused to take responsibility of failures and left it to the managers of respective states. It is greatest mistake of a leader to blame followers and not take responsibility himself. Such response could demoralise the organisation and cadres who did work hard but failed as they had not a commander to lead them to victory with vigour. Success of Punjab owes a lot to Capt. Amrinder Singh’s personal charisma rather than party leadership. The Congress behaved in very churlish manner to cry foul when they lost the game of politics.
In UP, it went so far as to announce their readiness to join BSP-SP to form a coalition against Modi. There was no end to the desperation of Congress party. Finally, they got less seats than last election and lost its bastion Amethi. Surprisingly, the party did not face the reality rather behaved like schizophrenic person to deny the reality. Rahul described this drubbing as a bit of loss. It was still a party with great history and could still rise. Who will lead it to rejuvenation is the question? The prevailing approach and reactions of its leaders to the developing political scenario is so depressing that one feels lost.
The worst response of the opposition is a call to unite all parties after clarion call of Ayyer, their hyperbole- priest. It is to form Mahagatbandhan against Modi. Instead of going to build the party and reaching to masses, they are indulging in another chimera in their Modi–hate-campaign. Combined with this is their joining AAP for questioning the EVM which gave them victory in Punjab. The disaster that struck AAP has left their leader out of wits.
First, he announced his acceptance of mandate of masses and later a new stupid idea was generated to question an instrument that gave them Delhi victory. Let us not forget that EVM was introduced when Vajpayee government lost. It was hailed as Indian invention and manufactured indigenously. All parties have instances when they won or lost in the same machines.
Instead of crying over spilt milk, it is better to avoid fear of Modi and unite against him. There should be a long term vision. Defeat can give them space to evolve party building time and work to connect with the masses.
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