‘Opposition too needs to go beyond well-thought-out ways of fighting a powerful electoral foe’ | Photo Credit: AP
It is to the credit of the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that its electoral agenda is planned in such a way that attention is always paid to every detail, whether it is a municipal election or a parliamentary election, much more than a special election. Earlier even notified. The opposition, which has stood firm for no such long-term exercise, is forced to respond to the agenda set by Modi. This becomes clear when the most important election on the horizon, the general elections in 2024, looms large. As the situation is, perhaps its result can also be predicted.
biggest fight
The most shocking political development, the process of disqualifying Rahul Gandhi as a Member of Parliament through a legal process and making him a martyr is part of the grand plan for 2024 – to make it an issue-based battle of Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi. Issues will become irrelevant in this fight. And Mr. Gandhi has accepted the challenge on Mr. Modi’s terms: his only concern is to defend himself at any cost.
The only issue for Mr. Gandhi is one that he repeatedly emphasized in his press conference held on the afternoon of March 25, 2023 – the denial of his legitimate right to reply in the Lok Sabha to the allegations leveled against him by some Union ministers, which Mr Gandhi calls “lies”, as well as the alleged relationship between Mr Modi and businessman Gautam Adani and the investment of “20,000 crores” in Adani Group businesses. Nothing suits Mr. Modi and the BJP more than this placard.
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One could be forgiven for hoping that Mr. Gandhi would have understood the game plan by now and would therefore rise above it. What is at stake today is a much bigger battle than the fight between Mr. Modi and Mr. Gandhi or the issue of the alleged Modi-Adani nexus and the paltry sum of Rs 20,000 crore. Today’s fight is essentially set on democracy versus dictatorship. Mr. Gandhi’s press conference must have pleased Mr. Modi.
reliable steps should be taken
It is clear to any observer that this battle has to be fought beyond issuing press statements, boasting and defending oneself against ‘lies’ or ‘truth’. This requires a dramatic move by seizing the initiative from the BJP and inviting the entire opposition to a united defense of democracy. Since Mr. Modi wants to set the agenda as himself versus Mr. Gandhi, a surefire way to steal the march would be for Mr. Gandhi to announce that he will not be a candidate for Prime Minister in 2024. In fact an even more decisive step would be to declare that no member of the Gandhi family would be a candidate and then call for a defense of democracy against the signs of a creeping dictatorship, which would undermine all constitutional institutions and even the state. The increasing control is evident. Media. The campaign that is relevant today is not the victory of the Congress, but the defeat of the BJP.
The second step would be to start a dialogue with the opposition not as their natural and given leader, but as one of equals. The Congress may have to give the opposition parties much more than they are legally entitled to.
This is exactly where its politics, claiming to sacrifice its narrow electoral interests for the sake of the nation, and the nation’s most valuable asset, democracy, will resonate with other parties and the nation. Narrow mindedness on the number of seats here and the number of candidates there will ensure the defeat of this important exercise. It is good to remember that the notion of self-sacrifice has much more value in Indian society than the assertion of self-interest.
going beyond ways that work well
It is now through a comprehensive view of the crisis and the assumption of the role of an elderly but gentle conscience keeper that the Congress can re-establish itself as the visionary leader of the country. The opposition also needs to go beyond well thought-out methods of fighting a powerful electoral foe, such as holding demonstrations, braving water canons and passing resolutions. There needs to be some dramatic twists that take the focus away from Mr. Modi’s visual magic and clever one-liners at his public meetings.
If it unites, the opposition should not fall prey to the BJP’s ‘Modi vs Who’ strategy, but present the 2024 election on an alternative issue of ‘democracy vs dictatorship’. It needs to have very clear plans rather than general statements to protect constitutional institutions, values, freedoms and welfare of the people.
Is it expecting too much from the Congress, the Gandhis and the opposition parties? Answer can be yes.
But for us common citizens of India, hope against hope is the only recourse left.
Harbans Mukhiya taught History at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi