Over 30 leaders from at least 15 opposition parties met in Patna on June 23rd to forge a strong alliance ahead of the 2024 elections. The mission is to form a grand alliance to stop BJP from coming to power again. The presence of AAP’s Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, and Congress leaders indicate that it is indeed a serious effort to combat the dynamic presence of the BJP
Except for Trinamool Congress, Congress, and AAP, all other parties were already allies in other states. In this opposition meeting, Nitish Kumar acted as a mediator and brought these giant oppositions to the same table. Mamata Banerjee made it clear that “we will be united and fight united.” While Mamata Banerjee’s party and Congress agreed to work despite their political differences, a scuffle between AAP’s Kejriwal and Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge was seen. Congress is against the AAP’s stand on the Delhi Ordinance which aims to grab control of service in Delhi. While AAP has been protesting against it, Congress has made an unclear stand. Congress is critical for AAP to oppose Ordinance in Rajya Sabha. The ordinance is a way to fight against the BJP government giving AAP the confidence to fight against BJP alone. AAP has also stated, it would be difficult for it to attend future meetings until Congress publicly denounces the Delhi Ordinance. Hence, the two key challenges for this Grand Opposition would be:- are they ready to lose AAP? And How do they go about Mamata Banerjee?
In the next opposition meeting, the primary focus will be on understanding the division of shared seats. As of now, the idea of keeping it state specific is circulating. However, the discussion on the face of PM has been set on hold to avoid fissures in the fresh alliance. It is important to note, in such alliances, there are multiple candidates for PM. Everyone joins the alliance with their very own ambition. However, there is clarity, unlike BJP the alliance will not come under the likability trap as in they won’t use one member as the godly face of the alliance.
The issues that will be highlighted in the campaign would be common factors among the parties such as the issue of democracy, political dominance over educational groups, secularism may also chip in. The challenge for the alliance would be devising an agreeable economic policy, and figuring out the balance between Congress and the regional parties.
Barring AAP all other opposition parties left feeling positive and hoping for a good beginning. We also see that BJD’s Naveen Patnaik and BSP’s Mayawati have decided to stay equidistant from both the opposition alliance and BJP.
In the past, a similar grand alliance was formed in 1971 against Indira Gandhi. IN 1967, Ram Manohar Lohia came up with the non-congressism strategy wherein they realized it was the decision of the votes of the opposition that kept the congress together urging the opposition parties to come. Consequently, Congress lost seats in nine states. The popular saying “If you take a train from Delhi to Howrah you will not pass through a single congress state” emerged. However, in 1971, a grand alliance was formed which aimed to keep Indira Gandhi out of power as its slogan “Indira Hatao” stated turned out to be a Grand Failure. The contemporary alliance begs the question will history repeat? Will the Grand Alliance once again lose to the surplus majority? The climax will be revealed in the 2024 elections.
