With less than a year until the next Lok Sabha elections, opposition groups are beginning to realise that a pan-Indian anti-BJP front may not be possible and that they should instead identify a few shared causes on which they can unite to challenge the incumbent party. Determining what those concerns should be, though, could be the next obstacle.
Many believe that the Opposition’s recent attacks on the BJP on issues like “targeting of leaders by misusing agencies,” “attack on autonomous and constitutional institutions,” and “silencing of dissent” – under the banner campaign of “democracy in danger” – may be effective catchphrases inside Parliament and even resonate in urban areas, but may not outside of it.Several of these parties’ leaders argue in private that it is time to put together a story that will appeal to voters more and can be more effectively articulated.
Even the Gautam Adani scandal and Rahul Gandhi’s “hurried” removal as a Lok Sabha Member, which have provided the Opposition with the most points of agreement, may not be enough of a unifying factor, according to some politicians. Many contend that the BJP must be defeated state by state. The challenge lies in the fact that many of the parties looking to form an alliance at the national level are fierce rivals in individual states or have their own political agendas to consider.
For instance, Nitish Kumar, the leader of the JD(U) and chief minister of Bihar, remained silent following Rahul’s conviction and disqualification. Nitish bemoaned a while back that the Congress’ response to his plea for encouragement to work towards bringing the Opposition parties together was anything but enthusiastic. But, Nitish is usually trying to sail both boats after donning a spotless persona and earlier abandoning partners like the RJD over conviction in cases.