Will the oppositions INDIA experiment succeed?

Omkar Dattatray

In India’s parliamentary democracy and governance ,the time of single party rule has ended many years back and culture of coalition has come to stay in our multi-party system .Thus both the ruling coalition and the opposition parties are making experiments of making and broad basing their alliances .So has the widely scattered and ideologically diverse opposition parties have formed their innovative conglomerate rechristened as INDIA to take on the mighty BJP led NDA in the 2024 general elections which are only 10 months from now .

It seems that the UPA had its burial and in its place and with the cooperation a new form of alliance of opposition parties has been cobbled and cemented in order to fight NDA in 2024 Lok Sabha polls .But the fact remains ,will the ideologically diverse and the parties of north pole and south pole alliance be able to take on the BJP in the crucial general elections .The new opposition alliance has been formed and named INDIA and it is to be seen ,whether changing name will be the summum bonum of the opposition or will the sum and substance of the opposition remain same .

Whatever it may be ,but the harsh reality is this that the opposition parties have united and formed the new alliance to keep Modi juggernaut away from the consecutive rule of third term  at the centre .It is so good that opposition parties have made broad consensus and have formed the alliance in order to stop the Modi Rath to capture power the third term in succession .Singly the opposition parties are unable to present a political alternative to the NDA in 2024 elections and this understanding has dawned upon that opposition parties and thus there was the hoarding in the opposition conclave at Bangalore which read as United we Stand and this principle and doctrine has become the practical utility of the opposition and thus has the opposition formed the new front to be able to wrest power from Modi led NDA government .

The widely diverse opposition parties have formed the new alliance named as INDIA but they have yet to decide on the prospective prime ministerial candidate and perhaps the prime minister will be chosen after the polls and this is a good strategy to keep the opposition united to contest the crucial Lok Sabha elections .In opposition parties different political leaders nurse the ambition to become the prime minister and so far so good as there is no sin in aiming high as only sky should be the limit .However it is good politics ,if the opposition defers the decision to put before the electorate its Prime ministerial candidate before the polls .

Now the broad consensus has emerged among the opposition parties and they have forged the alliance .But the formation of the alliance should not be the old wine in new bottles ,but broadly there have emerged much change in the characteristics and nature of the opposition parties and they have realized that severally and singly they are unable to put a tough fight to the NDA and thus have the opposition parties shun their major differences and have cobbled the new alliance with a new name ,but will changing the name have a positive impact on the political fortunes of the opposition .

It is a hard fact that a rose if called by any other name will remain same and there is no change in its fragrance and on this analogy there is no sense in changing the name of the alliance and difference will be seen if those forming alliance will work in unison to fight the BJP hegemony and monopoly in 2024 general elections .Whatever is the name of the new alliance ,the participating parties should work with the single mission and aim of dethroning the NDA government headed by the BJP’s Modi .It is to be seen how will the new opposition alliance be in a position to lessen Modi charisma and Modi wave in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls .Modi’s popularity is unimpeachable and he has become a global leaders and world boss and it is very difficult for the united opposition to derail the Modi train and so it is easier said than done to defeat the formidable and mighty Modi in the forthcoming general elections .

The INDIA has to work very hard and plan meticulously to stop Modi from assuming the office third time in succession .The opposition parties have to work very hard and sacrifice a lot to stop Modi from office in 2024.This task is stupendous and needs sacrifice and hard work .The opposition alliance should shun negative politics and do positive politics and expose the failures and shortcomings of Modi government .The opposition front should do politics on developmental plank and form developmental agenda at the appropriate poll time and it should exploit the anti incumbency of the BJP government so that it can take on this government in 2024.However it is the hard fact that removal of Modi is the single point of opposition alliance and this is likely to put this alliance in trouble .

The opposition alliance should raise the problems of skyrocketing of the prices of goods and services and the growing unemployment and joblessness and puncture the Modi’s promise of providing jobs to the unemployed youth .In the matter of controlling inflation ,providing jobs to the millions of the unemployed youth and on the front of providing security ,dignity and respect to the women ,the Modi government has miserably  failed  and the opposition alliance should raise these important issues rather than attacking the person of the prime minister .Therefore the opposition alliance should shun and abstain from negative politics which may land it in trouble and will not lead to political dividends to the new alliance .So the INDIA should embrace positive and constructive politics and expose the failures of the NDA government instead of attacking the person of prime minister and this will in the long run put the opposition alliance to great disadvantage .

The INDIA should expose the shortcomings and failures of the Modi government and promise to give the people a pro people and pro poor government which will care for the rights and interests of the people .There should be no mudslinging upon the Prime minister Modi as in all probability it will backfire on the opposition and harm their political fortune .So it is in the interest of the opposition alliance to concentrate on exposing the failures and limitations of the Modi government and assure and promise the electorate a government which will be responsive to the issues and pressing needs and problems of the people .

In the end it can be said that it is premature to say anything definite on the question of will the INDIA experiment will be successful in the ensuing politics and political battle and only psephologists will be in a position to say anything on this important question. Let us hope that the new alliance will be able to fight the BJP hegemony and exploitation in the run up to general elections. May the INDIA play a positive, constructive and developmental politics as its name signifies.

(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)