Jagdish R Sharma
The General Elections of 2024 have not given a verdict to any single party to govern for another five years but the pre-poll alliance of NDA has got a clear majority. The NDA led by Modi 3. O took over the reins of power to rule the country for a successive third term.
The I.N.D. I. Alliance led by Congress was upbeat that the BJP could not form the Govt. on its own and termed the newly formed Govt. fragile. Its dreams were shattered when everything went smoothly, from allocating ministries to electing a new speaker. They hoped that partners of NDA would not give a free hand to the BJP while assigning portfolios of ministries and electing new speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha. NDA constituents have displayed solidarity in forming the new Govt, which augurs well for the country as it needs a stable Govt. NDA partners stayed humble when blessings came their way. PM Modi has acumen and is an astute statesman who believes in ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade’ It has proved beyond doubt that the image of Modi is Whiter than white. It was an ill omen for the opposition alliance, which wanted to dislodge the Modi Govt. and termed the present dispensation as fragile. This has also been corroborated by the positive response from the Stock Markets, as the Sensex is touching new heights and foreign investors have positively welcomed the mandate. The latest developments have also discarded the theory of fragile dispensation.
A narrative was being made that the Modi 3. O was fragile and could collapse at any time. Another narrative floated was that the NDA coalition was unconstitutional as it lacked the morality to rule the country. While floating these arguments, the detractors of Modi have failed to recognize the fact that in the UPA- I, Govt headed by Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress had only 145 seats in 2004.
Those questioning the legality and morality of the present ruling dispensation fail to convince the public that in 2004, the Congress was the leading partner in UPA with 145 seats and securing 26.53 per cent votes while the BJP had secured 138 seats with 22.16 per cent votes. The BJP was lagging by seven seats as compared to the Congress. Even then the UPA ran the Govt. for a full term. In the 2009 general elections, the congress got 206 seats, it led the UPA II coalition dispensation. In both times, Congress did not get as many seats as the BJP has got in 2024. BJP remained in opposition without creating any fake narrative and casting any doubt over its morality and legality. It humbly accepted the people’s mandate.
Whereas in Modi 3. O Govt, BJP has secured 240 seats alone and Congress 99 seats. NDA is well-saddled with 293 seats while the I.N.D.I alliance partners have secured 234 seats in total and BJP alone has 240 seats, six more than the combined opposition strength. There is a lot of difference in the perceptions, this time EVM has been replaced with new narratives and a false perception created that the ruling alliance is fragile and illegal.
There is no denying the fact that this time, opposition has been given space by the electorates for manoeuvring in the interest of the nation. After a gap of ten years, Congress has been upbeat, as it has got in its kitty, the leader of the opposition post. A post that entails the responsibility to keep check and balance in the Govt. It also bestows the responsibility to remain in solidarity with the Union Govt. in sovereignty and national security issues. With the coronation of the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi has been entrusted with responsibilities and he has to show his political acumen and maturity.
Now that the new Govt has been formed and is in place, there is no need to raise doubt among the masses, that the present dispensation has been defeated and doesn’t deserve to rule. They fail to answer, who has won the elections. What was the position in 2004 and 2009 when UPA ruled for ten years? In a democracy, even one vote can turn the tables, nevertheless, the NDA has 293 seats. What has changed now? The opposition camp had a meagre presence in the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha while the NDA had a robust majority. This time in the 18th Lok Sabha, the opposition has a significant presence which has given it a reason to be upbeat.
There is still doubt about the unanimity and solidarity in the opposition camp. They may seem to be united to oppose the Govt but what about their programmes and policies? In West Bengal, TMC has fought elections against its so-called allies and even defeated the leader of the House of Congress in the 17th Lok Sabha., who has since gone to oblivion. On the other hand, AAP and Congress fought elections against each other in Punjab. Left parties even fought elections aggressively against Rahul Gandhi. Now all are in the I.N.D.I Alliance and are on the same page to oppose the present dispensation. What would have been the rallying point for the opposition camp? To oppose Modi Govt vehemently or something else.
Can India afford an unstable Govt at the Centre? Its cascading effects can be imagined in the new world order. In the post-COVID-19 era, the world is passing through an economic meltdown and at the same time bearing the brunt of the Ukraine-Russia war and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The need of the hour for India is to have a stable and strong Govt. so that India can grow and become the third-largest economic power. Fortunately, the electorates have given the verdict and put the NDA Govt in place to lead the country. At the same time, through NDA coalition partners, Modi is heading the Govt for the third consecutive term, which itself is a record.
The irony is that I.N.D.I Alliance is fraught with inherent differences but stitched only for cosmetic display and to gain dividends during the general elections in 2024. All the constituents have come together after putting aside differences with a common goal to dislodge the Modi Government at any cost. They could not succeed, though, they gained some seats. If we thoroughly delve into the very existence of the various constituents of I.N.D.I . Alliance, the origin and aim of these constituents have been to decimate each other. Their policies and programmes contradict themselves. All of them have tried on various occasions to counter the advancement of the saffron brigade on the Indian horizon but failed. The people of India have wholeheartedly supported the policies and programmes of the Modi-led Govt. The Opposition bloc is evolving new strategies to take on the present regime.
One reason to have a combined front to take on the NDA led by the BJP could be that the regional satraps think that they have better bargaining power in case of a hung parliament. A clear majority Govt. at the centre makes them marginalized and they lose their significance. In politics, political parties bargain to remain relevant and can change sides. Politics is a game of opportunities and possibilities. There are no permanent enemies and friends.
Likewise, narratives keep on changing and can brand others anti-people as and when situations arise. They can support the same legislation when in power and oppose it, when in opposition. They can brand their opponents as anti-people and also play a false narrative to achieve electoral advantage. They don’t leave any opportunity to tarnish the image on false grounds. When the constituents of the opposition camp were heading the coalition for ten years they were morally upright and legally correct but when others did the same they became illegal and morally corrupt, terming the dispensation fragile. This is just like ‘My shirt is whiter than yours’.
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