By Harihar Swarup
What India needs
after 2019 general election is stability. One wonders if the Opposition with
all efforts to unite, even if they come on one platform, can provide a stable
government. Our experience with the era of coalition has not been happy. The
country’s eyes are now fixed on a renewed Congress led by Priyanka and Rahul
Gandhi. Doubtless, Priyanka’s entry in active politics has rejuvenated the
party’s rank and file and old-timers began recalling the pristine days of the
grand old party. Even though Priyanka has stark similarity with her
grandmother, Indira Gandhi, will she get vote for the Congress? Unlike most of
the Congress leaders, Priyanka is charismatic and has capacity to sway voters;
however, it is too early to say if she can get a majority for her party.
Till recently, while
Congress is perceived as a weak party, out of power since 2014. Today, it
appears reinvigorated compared to 2014 or 2017. Its ability to limit the seats
won by the BJP to 99 in Gujarat 2017 assembly elections, form a coalition in
Karnataka in 2018 despite the BJP emerging as the largest single party, and
recent successes in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, point to a new
dynamism under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Based on the new found
confidence, following the formation of the BSP-SP alliance, the party has
announced that it would contest all the seats in U.P. Efforts are being made by
SP leader Akhilesh Yadav to include Congress also in the alliance.
BJP, already ruling the Centre, has resources
and cadres to get a majority and provide stability. But the popular mood
appears to be turning against it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not as
popular as he was at the time of 2014 general election. It is believed he has
lost most of his public appeal and charisma. Nevertheless, he still retains
some of his popularity. What has gone against him is unfulfilled poll promises
such as introducing rapid development, resolving the farm crisis, improvement
in the health and education sectors. On the other hand, his policies like
demonetization, GST have caused misery to the poor or small business. There is
rising anger among Dalits due to incidents of violence against them and
attempts to dilute the SC/ST Act. Similarly, yogi Adityanath’s tenure has been
marked by failures.
Despite two big
gatherings in Delhi in recent days the reality is that the contours of the
opposition unity project remain undefined. Since the impressive congregation of
all opposition leaders at H D Kumaraswamy’s gala swearing in Bengaluru, there
has been no real movement on the grand alliance front through many photo
opportunities came and went. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu’s
hunger strike saw Congress President Rahul Gandhi joining him on stage.
But an Aam Aadmi
party invitation to its ‘save Democracy’ rally, a no-go area for Rahul Gandhi
though leaders like Mamata Banerjee H D Deve Gowda, Chandrababu Naidu, Sharad
Pawar and representatives of other regional parties were in attendance.
Political calculations and national perspective or a capacity for sacrifice
have inspired these joint appearance. Parties opposed to BJP also need to fight
each in many states. (IPA Service)
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