Patna: The opposition meeting of different political parties has begun in Patna, The meeting is hosted by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to find a consensus among the hodgepodge of opposition political parties to take on BJP and PM Modi in the coming Lok Sabha Election 2024.
The opposition choice to convene a meeting in Patna is symbolic as it was here in 1974 that Jayaprakash Narayan called for total revolution to topple Indira Gandhi’s government. However, in 2023 the Congress party is part of the opposition move to forge a united front against the BJP juggernaut.
The meeting will be attended by twenty opposition political parties including Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajvadi Party, CPI(M), CPI, RJD, JMM, NCP, PDP, National Conference, JD(U), Muslim League, RSP, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), Kerala Congress (M).
Prominent political parties that are not participating in the meeting are BSP and the BRS.
However, the political parties coming together will find it hard to arrive at a consensus as these parties have their own agenda and interests. For example, the AAP wants the opposition parties to stand against Central government ordinance onDelhi government service matters. However Congress do not see AAP eye-to-eye in this issue. The AAP have already threatened to walk out of the meeting unless Congress and other parties take a stand on it.
The Congress might be looking for a leadership role and its hope to project Rahul Gandhi as an emerging leader and future of India’s leadership. However, it must be seen how this might be received by other opposition parties.
JD(U) while being the host of the meeting, will surely want to secure a more prominent role for its leader Nitish Kumar rivaling that of Congress’ ambition for Rahul Gandhi.
Discussions on sharing and the selection of candidates etc. could all contribute to roadblocks to forge a united opposition against BJP.
As most parties are vying for personal gains and make themselves appear as champions of their respective support base, a united front is hard to come by.
Besides, the country is facing unprecedented growth and respect on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Unlike during Indira Gandhi’s times in 1970’s, when the country was reeling under corruption, and economic hardships, the present India under Modi is vibrant, with less corruption and easing inflation.
Narendra Modi is still the most popular leader in the country and also around the world. No opposition leader has the grandeur and popularity commanded by Modi.
The likely outcome from the opposition meeting could be a semblance of unity and a call to fight BJP and Hindutva politics.
Comments