Failed joint attempt to take on PM Modi in 2024 LS polls will also weaken parties in the opposition grouping to throw up credible challenge individually
Politics is classically defined as “art of managing contradiction”, but one still must know the quality and quantity of differences and if they go beyond the level of being managed, they result in different kinds of conflict.
The I.N.D.I. alliance, which has been formed to unseat BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Power, appears to have “unmanageable contradictions” leading to multi-layered conflicts, which are in the nature of disputes over natural resources, competing vote base and personality clashes.
Thus, under circumstances if they fail to jointly take on BJP and PM Modi, this will also weaken their capacity wherewithal to throw up the challenge individually.
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, who after coming out of the BJP-led NDA, initiated and led the campaign to bring together all leaders and political parties, who have special disliking for PM Modi. Kumar’s one and only aim was to stop Modi’s victory juggernaut in 2024.
Despite Bihar CM taking the initiative and travelling across the country and meeting leaders of anti-BJP (Modi) parties, things have not yet come on the right track as the alliance is still too far away from resolving internal conflicts and rivalries.
Before delving into the specific differences and contradictions state wise, in the past six months after holding three mega meetings – Patna, Bangalore and Mumbai – the I.N.D.I alliance could not decide on the leadership issue. They have not yet decided on their Prime Ministerial face, who would take on established and tested PM Modi.
Congress, which is the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha, wants Rahul Gandhi to be the Prime Minister face for the general elections. However, no other alliance partners have shown any inclination towards Rahul Gandhi’s leadership that has led Congress to defeats in the past two elections.
On the other hand, Nitish Kumar, who thought he might become the face of the opposition alliance and hosted the first-ever meeting in Patna, has understood that no one sees him as the national leader among the allies. The same goes for other top leaders in the alliance, who, despite three meetings, are yet to come up with either a seat-sharing formula or decide on a leader.
As the time progressed and 2024 general elections are nearing by the day there has been a new issue among the I.N.D.I partners. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are locking horns in Punjab and Delhi in the North. In the East, Congress is going ballistic against ruling TMC in West Bengal. In the South, DMK and Congress are fighting over Cauvery water in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Finally, in the West, Rajasthan elections are going to divide Congress and AAP further as both the parties are vying to contest more seats in the state.
Even in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh the I.N.D.I. alliance partners are in a dilemma over whether they want to stay friends in state politics or the friendship will remain only on the national level.
Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
On 23rd September, Cauvery water dispute escalated between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as RAF was deployed in Karnataka’s Mandya. In the latest development, farmers from both states have staged protests against Chief Ministers of each other’s states. Tamil Nadu farmers performed the last rites of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. On the other hand, farmers from Karnataka performed the last rites of Tamil Nadu CM Stalin.
Interestingly, in Tamil Nadu, DMK and Congress are in alliance. However, they are unable to solve the water dispute between the states. Such issues will create problems, especially when they plan to contest Lok Sabha elections under one banner.
AAP and Congress lock horns in Punjab
In the first week of September, Anmol Gagan Mann, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a minister in Punjab, stated that there would be no alliance with the Congress party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. AAP will contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state under its own symbol. Interestingly, several Congress leaders in the state also oppose the idea of partnering with the AAP. In between, the AAP government in Punjab has gone all out against Congress by arresting its MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
The conflict of interest will also be a major issue between AAP and Congress in other states. Delhi has become AAP’s fort. Indications are there that AAP will not share Parliamentary seats with Congress in Delhi.
On the other hand, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is already roaming in Chhattisgarh, a state currently ruled by Congress, asking to bring AAP to power. While campaigning, Kejriwal is throwing around the usual promises like free electricity. It is clear that AAP and Congress are not going to contest Chhattisgarh under any alliance. Similarly, in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, AAP is looking to contest against the ruling parties Congress, and BJP, respectively, without any hope of alliance with the Congress party.
Even in Bihar, CM Kumar, who initiated the process, now appears to be not that enthusiastic about the I.N.D.I alliance, despite the fact that his alliance partner in the state RJD wants him to shift to national politics and vacate the CM’s post for deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.
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