Opposition is losing momentum as the BJP deals with a lot of issues

In the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections, happenings are defying expediency and logic as the pieces fit together on the political chessboard. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), headed by the BJP, is opposed by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) group. In accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement in Parliament, the saffron party has set a goal of 370 Lok Sabha seats (and 400 for the NDA). India has to mobilize as many partners as possible to strengthen its position against a dominant party that is assiduously working to topple opposition-led regimes that provide the alliance strength. The NDA administration has been accused of fiscal unfairness, selectively targeting ministers for alleged misconduct, and providing insufficient help to cope with natural disasters like the floods in Tamil Nadu. These accusations have been made in an effort to intensify the dispute between the Centre and the states.

The BJP, a massive organization with a stronghold over statutory institutions, a charismatic prime minister who allegedly outperforms his international counterparts in regular rankings, and a strong party apparatus, is what stands on the opposite side. Against a disorganized and fast-disintegrating Opposition alliance, the BJP more than holds its own.

The ultimate irony may be seen in the BJP’s relentless pursuit of courting and appropriating as many regional factions as it can inside the NDA, even in the face of their dynastic or identity politics origins, which the party openly declares to be abhorrent. The BJP has lost important allies in the previous five years, including the Shiv Sena in its whole, the Janata Dal (United), and the Shiromani Akali Dal. With the addition of the minor parties, the NDA’s sphere of influence has grown. Meanwhile, the BJP used shrewd political tactics to divide the Sena in Maharashtra and seize control of a sizable portion from the party’s founder, Uddhav Thackeray, as well as Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. The NDA owns the faction led by Ajit Pawar’s nephew. The BJP’s post facto accusations against Pawar and Uddhav were validated by the ownership of former legatees (Ajit) and a close associate of Uddhav, Eknath Shinde of the split Sena. In a stunning coup, the BJP reclaimed the JD(U), toppling a’secular’ coalition government and regaining control of Bihar under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, who was reportedly disgraced. In an attempt to overtake the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, it has reopened talks with the SAD.

The BJP’s pursuit of a coalition in Uttar Pradesh is particularly interesting since it seems to be an attempt to solidify its victories in the western part of the state, which has consistently supported the party during good times and bad. The plan is to weaken the opposition, which in June of last year seemed sincere in its desire to present a united front against the BJP, even if it is still unclear who will lead INDIA: the Congress or a regional leader.

India’s lack of a clear leader was brought to light in December when the BJP defeated the Congress in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh to reclaim control of the Hindi core. Debilitated by the setbacks, the Congress turns to its southern allies, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, for support.

Unfazed by its comparatively small representation in the south, the BJP proceeded to make common cause with the Janata Dal (Secular), which is essentially the Deve Gowda clan’s private estate, after its loss in the Assembly elections. While the leaders of neighboring Telangana aren’t sure whether to join forces with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, the Telugu Desam Party and its rival, the YSR Congress Party, desire to support the BJP in Andhra Pradesh.

With a plethora of partners in UP and Bihar, the BJP has an abundance of problems in this unbalanced terrain, while INDIA suffers a drought with the departure of the JD(U) and significant Congress figures, the most recent of whom is former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan. The NDA’s seat-sharing issues may arise as a result of the plenitude, but the BJP’s strategists have a track record of resolving these issues.

Why did India’s situation come to an unpleasant end? Because neither the Congress nor the people in the regions could specify their equations, the alliance’s plight seemed set from the start. The Samajwadi Party, the JD(U), and the Trinamool Congress considered themselves to be on the same level as the Congress. However, Congress want to take on the responsibility without having to use so many words to express it. Conversely, the state parties were unable to reach a consensus over a single directive. The TMC and AAP rejected the convener appointment plan because they believed Nitish would use it as a springboard to become the next prime minister of India. Rahul Gandhi, for his part, never refuted rumors that he was a contender for prime minister.

The aspirations of the Congress were wildly out of proportion to its actual power. With three states in the Hindi heartland seeing reversals, the Assembly election results that were declared in December of last year essentially sealed its doom. It would have been reasonable for the Congress to seek to lead the INDIA bloc if it had won two of the three states. The victory of Telangana was insufficient to make up for the states of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan losing their authority and the inability to regain MP.

The Congress has never been good at forming coalitions. Reluctantly, when the chips were down and it failed to achieve a majority in the Lok Sabha, it endorsed non-BJP coalitions, only to bring them down as if it were a game. Rahul Gandhi is consistent with the customs. It was well known that Nitish was unhappy in India and that the RLD was looking for better opportunities. Rahul did not inquire as to the leaders’ wishes or the reason for their unhappiness. Additionally, he has shown no remorse for the departure of party members, including a personal friend in Milind Deora. India has little chance of success until the party gets over its grandiose illusions.