24

Jul

National Politics at crossroads?

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While the ruling BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to refit and overhaul an almost defunct NDA, the opposition is making a serious effort to unite to present the country’s electorate an credible alternative that evokes confidence and comfort from the sufferings of economic deprivation, communal peace and social unrest.           

Dr. Satish Misra

Last week on July 18 a Tuesday, it became official that INDIA will challenge NDA in 2024 Lok Sabha elections as country’s politics moved to take a turn with the ruling party leaving nothing to chance to defend its bastion.

National Politics seems to be standing at the crossroads with people fed up with falling living standards, economic woes and social strife along with rising unemployment looking for a credible alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi brand of rulers who only demand sacrifices from citizens while diverting popular attention from pressing needs.

Month of July is likely to go as a major landmark in the political history of the country when the die was cast for the 2024 Lok Sabha battle at the respective meetings of the BJP –led National Democratic Alliance in the union capital and the opposition’s second conclave in Bengaluru that was attended by 26 parties where it was decided to name the front as Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).  

While the ruling BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to refit and overhaul an almost defunct NDA, the opposition is making a serious effort to unite to present the country’s electorate an credible alternative that evokes confidence and comfort from the sufferings of economic deprivation, communal peace and social unrest.           

Pertinently, the Prime Minister and his comrade in arms or “crimes” Union Minister Amit Shah woke up to the reality of slipping of political ground beneath the proverbial feet of RSS-BJP empire when they despite all advantages in their favour lost Karnataka assembly elections in May this year and thereafter 15 opposition parties met at Patna last month to unite for giving a credible alternative to people and to measure up to their expectations.

The ruling combine began preparing for the coming battle by splitting parties like Nationalist Congress Party deploying ED and Income Tax department in Maharashtra for breaking the resolve of the veteran leader Sharad Pawaw who has been playing a stellar role in uniting political parties. It became clear that the ruling party’s strategists can go to any extent as they have no moral compunctions,    

It was not a coincidence but a well thought move to hold the NDA meeting on the same day when the opposition had announced that it will hold its second summit of leaders in Bengaluru on July 18. The move was aimed at stealing away the media headlines as the ruling party media planners that the ruling NDA would hog the limelight being in power.

Not stopping at this alone, planners burnt the proverbial midnight oil to collect newer parties to project a grand show for leading the gullible ordinary folk up the garden path. In the process, even those parties were made part of the NDA that have no representation either in the Lok Sabha or state assemblies.

Notwithstanding the shortcomings and the anti-incumbency from which the BJP-led NDA is suffering from, task of defeating it in the general elections next year is not going to be easy because the ruling combination will enter into the fray with huge advantages like the money and state power apart from the electoral machinery it has.  

Conscious of the NDA’s decisive edge over it and being fully aware of the fact that the Sangh backed BJP will employ any means and deploy every trick to ensure its electoral victory, the opposition seems to be moving carefully and cautiously.

The way, the opposition leaders deliberated at the two meetings in Patna and Bengaluru evokes confidence that their resolve to defeat the ruling NDA is firming up. Consensus driven decision making was clearly visible the way leaders of the 26 parties agreed on the naming their front INDIA which is surely a big psychological advantage over its adversary.

Anticipating the dirty tricks that Sangh and BJP use and expecting that the troll army would attack the name INDIA by making it English versus Hindi issue, the opposition swiftly came out with a tagline in Hindi “Jeetega Bharat” reflecting a resolve that we are ready to take on.

The opposition has begun well and its ranks are bound to swell as election time comes but the battle against the Modi led NDA is going to be tough. At present, only a message has gone to people that the opposition is serious to challenge.

By declaring that it is not interested in having its prime minister, the Congress took a much needed strategic step to announce that it is fighting an ideological battle and not running after power which has helped in removing doubts and anxieties of many of the leaders of INDIA.

Having begun well, many more pronouncements and policy decisions will be required in coming weeks before it can emerge as a credible alternative to the NDA that is determined to stay in power by every means- fair or foul.

A vision document that can trigger confidence in the popular perception that INDIA will ensure better living standards and higher quality of life while ensuring that citizens are treated equally without any distinction on the basis of religion, faith, caste or creed will prove to be a way forward to win people’s heart.

Reports suggest that leaders are working on it while working on strategies that would ensure one to one contest on maximum number of Lok Sabha seats.

Congress Chief Malikarjun Kharge’s candid admission that there are differences among the alliance partners reflects a degree of confidence that battle can be won. The next meeting at Mumbai, where many more concrete steps like setting up of a secretariat and choosing of a convenor are expected to be announced, would be crucial for the battle ahead which is going to be mean and bloody. 

At present, the NDA is going into the electoral battle with many advantages but INDIA also seems to be engaged in an earnest exercise to win hearts of people because emotions often play a significant role in electoral battles in our country.

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