NEW DELHI: “First you have to regain strength, then you can talk of opposition unity,” BSP spokesperson Sudheendra Bhadoria said. Most of the Opposition parties are busy in regaining their mass base before they decide to come together to take on the ruling NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019. At present, there is no sign of Opposition unity at the national level.
Congress, which claims to be the natural anchor of the Opposition, is focusing on the Assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The remaining partners, TMC, Left, RJD, SP, and BSP are busy strengthening their own bases. In an attempt to project a strong base, BSP chief Mayawati organised a massive rally in Meerut on September 18. In the last elections her party was reduced to just 19 lawmakers in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
Former UP chief minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav too staged a big show in Lucknow on September 23 to send out a message that his party which has just 47 lawmakers in the House against the ruling BJP’s 312, still matters. “We have to reclaim our former position,” SP leader Neeraj Shekhar said.
Not long ago, RJD chief Lalu Prasad staged a show of strength in Patna on August 27. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati, and the CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, however, skipped the event.
The assessment among these parties was that Lalu was trying to deflect attention from the several corruption cases that he and his son Tejashwi are facing. West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee too is worried over the high-profile corruption cases involving some party leaders. Besides, the way Banerjee treats the other Opposition parties has not gone down well with them.
West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary said, “Mamata always works against the overall interests of the Opposition unity.” For the Left parties, who may be seen protesting together with the TMC in Parliament, defeating Mamata to regain their former position is the most important strategic goal, said a senior CPI(M) leader. Meanwhile, the behaviour of Sharad Pawar-led NCP too is doubtful as two of his party MLAs in Gujarat recently voted against Congress candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections.
Who’s busy where
Congress is focusing on the Assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
BSP chief Mayawati organised a massive rally to gain ground in Meerut on September 18.
Former UP chief minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav too staged a big show in Lucknow on September 23.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad staged a show of strength in Patna on August 27.
West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee too is worried over the high-profile corruption cases.