The sad state of India’s Opposition was evident at a Delhi conclave attended by eight political parties opposed to the BJP. The meeting was held in a cautious first step forward with an eye on the 2024 parliamentary polls, which could give the non-BJP parties the first opportunity to oust the NDA and Prime Minister Modi from power. However the fulcrum around which the meeting revolved, Sharad Pawar, was at pains to explain it was only meant to be a discussion on the state of the nation. As National Conference leader Omar Abdullah stressed, no such discussion is complete without a look at the political scenario.
As it turned out, no leader with notable clout attended the meeting, held as desired by former Union minister and Rashtra Manch leader Yashwant Sinha. Sinha lacks a base even in his native Bihar. Had he called the meeting without Pawar — whose NCP shares power with the Shiv Sena and the Congress in Maharashtra — it would have proven to be more of a damp squib. Word is that Sharad Pawar was testing the waters and caught on a request from Sinha for holding the meet at his Delhi residence. Pawar’s series of meetings with election strategist Prashant Kishor in recent days indicates that something is cooking behind the curtains.The principal reason why there is no enthusiasm about an Opposition build-up even after the flooring of the BJP in West Bengal is the strategy being tied on the sly by the Opposition parties to keep the Congress out of a joint offensive against the BJP and PM Modi. Pawar rightly understands that if an offensive has to be launched then this is the time to start it, also because it would require time to take the movement to a crescendo by 2024. The ambitions of regional leaders to grab the PM’s post could be a reason why they are wary of inclusion of the Congress in the proposed grouping, as had been the case before the 2019 polls too.
A problem with the regional parties and leaders is that they cannot pull along together. From the 1977 Janata Party period, this was proven time and again. Their egos clash at first sight. These parties and leaders are principally promoting dynasties and Mamata Banejree is only the latest addition. They are all in the forefront of corruption if one goes by the series of exposes of the past. The Congress too is plagued by these flaws, but it still has a pan India appeal.
