Elections give brewing space to several narratives and speculations. Among other developments, Lok Sabha polls of 2024 had ‘united’ the opposition parties and caught the nation’s attention. However, with each passing day the core idea of the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc is receiving a jolt.
After every drubbing that the INDI Alliance gets, it makes one question: Why was the alliance formed?— to make a mockery of those associated with it? Or, to turn the core agenda of the bloc on its head with every passing day?
These concerns gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi enough content for his speech. After the first phase of elections came to an end, PM Modi pointed out the lack of trust that the political parties of the alliance have on themselves. “They are fighting among themselves in about 25 per cent of the seats. How can one trust them when they cannot trust themselves?” said PM Modi from Nanded in Maharashtra.
It was July 2023 when these opposition leaders came up as a force to reckon with by identifying themselves as INDIA. And when the second phase of elections are round the corner, their concept of ‘unity’ is appearing like a sham with contradictions, insecurity, infighting rearing heads from every nook and cranny of the alliance.
After West Bengal, the focus is on Kerala, since all the 20 parliamentary seats of the state are going to polls on April 26.
The two primary constituents of the INDIA bloc, CPM and Congress, the leaders of the party have got engaged in a war of words. Where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has raked up an old slur against Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul, too, questioned why CM Vijayan has not yet been arrested on charges of corruption like the other two chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren.
He also underscored that the central agencies are going soft on the Left leader.
Rahul, himself, pointed out the flaw of the INDIA bloc and termed it ‘puzzling’. “I am targeting BJP. However, Kerala’s CM is attacking me in return. This appears puzzling.”
This, indeed, appears puzzling to not just Rahul but to us too.
Allies outside the house and enemies when in home. An opposite of this is still acceptable (one can be rivals outside and still choose to be friends at home). But the puzzle which the INDI bloc is presenting to the nation is just making their case worse.
Vijayan took us back to the days of 'Emergency’ when the hold of the Congress was in Indira Gandhi’s hand, he also reminded of Rahul being addressed ‘Amul baby’ nearly a decade ago.
In one go, Rahul’s question on Vijayan’s arrest brought a reply from the Kerala CM in a manner that lays bare the loopholes in the Opposition alliance.
Even Priyanka Gandhi jumped into the fray by calling the Left leader a “compromised player”. She admitted that one cannot win the match, if your team members bring your morale down instead of giving it a boost.
She said: “Kerala CM can attack my brother but never utters anything against the BJP. He has been involved in scams, but nobody comes to chase him.”
The INDIA bloc met with a similar fate in West Bengal. Across Kerala, both the allies of the opposition alliance, CPIM and Congress, will face off each other on April 26. It is to be seen in which direction this heated political discourse will take a turn to the ‘Right’ (favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party) or ‘Left’.
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