Sections of the media have woven a narrative around the No-Confidence Motion moved by the combined Opposition now known by the acronym INDIA (Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance) against the Narendra Modi led Government. The narrative is to pit one group against the . other and to frame the narrative – Who won the No-Confidence Motion and who made the best speeches. So Parliament is reduced to a debating platform where parliamentarians are to be given brownie points. Is that the only purpose of the No-Confidence Motion? It is rightly pointed out by political observers that this Alliance is yet to come up with a Common Minimum Programme considering there is very little time left between now and 2024 May. The purpose of an Opposition Party/Parties is to put the government in the docks and corner it with facts, figures without dramatizing the entire affair and without the use of pulverising language. There is neither need for rhetoric or diatribes and certainly Parliament is no place for personal attacks such as “Naamdar” to suggest ‘dynasty,’ and we know who the dart is aimed at.
The politics in this country today is so deeply polarised that this ideological divide has now been dragged into Parliament. As a result, issues that require serious and intense debates such as inflation and the galloping prices of essentials are forgotten even while those in government read out their litanies of achievements which mean nothing to the common man. But the very purpose of the No Confidence Motion was to corner the Prime Minister who seemed to have been tongue-tied insofar as Manipur is concerned. After a nearly two hour rhetoric laced with sarcasm the Prime Minister deigned to speak on Manipur for just about 5 mins and a few seconds. He lacked the compassion and empathy that those who have lost their homes, the bereaved and those spending sleepless nights in relief camps need at this point. The Prime Minister’s sole concern is to use every narrative to ready himself for the battle royale in 2024. All else is forgotten in this battle where holding on to power is the only objective. Is this the reason for democracy? And what democracy can we speak of when the ‘people’ with whom powers should legitimately reside have been rendered completely powerless and most in abject poverty. The three trillion dollar economy bandied about means zilch to them. It is in this hugely divided polity that the BJP will be entering the fray with its bombastic claims. To counter this would require a well-armed Opposition combine that does a SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the ruling conglomerate and hits it where it hurts the most. To be able to carry people along is the strength of any political party. Once the people are alienated, defeat is imminent.