The battle-lines for the 2024 General Election have been drawn, with 26 Opposition parties forming an anti-BJP coalition named as INDIA, an acronym for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. The Opposition tried to be smart while coining the name of their new front, sensing the pulse of people that have been rejecting their established credentials of pseudo-secularism and ancient Indian ethos. However, it now has a name, but it still lacks a face. Even the name is not in an aesthetic order that puts ‘Inclusive' as an adjective to their political ‘Alliance' rather than ‘Inclusive Development.'
While forming pre-poll and post poll alliances and fronts are not new to the political landscape in India, yet these remained short lived due to their superficial unity over the deep political ambitions and excess baggage.
The latest attempt may have paved the way for the new alliance, the fact remains that they have realised that none of them is able to give a meaningful and effective fight to Narendra Modi Government to capture New Delhi. But the landing may not be soft given the ill-fitting, uncertain wheels of alliances. The road to the Capital is again littered with hurdles and blocks. And it is not just in reference to the forthcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan, MP, Telangana, Chattisgarh and Mizoram, where the Congress, TSR, BJP are individually the incumbents. Reverses here would doubtless put the clock back on the Alliance's Delhi dream. They may still limp their way to embark on the arduous journey.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who faces being barred from running in the Lok Sabha elections next year if the Supreme Court upholds his conviction and sentence in a defamation case, has declared that INDIA will fight Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ‘idea of India'. PM Modi, for his part, stated at a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting that India has a long history of coalitions, but those formed on the basis of negativity have never succeeded. Notably, the BJP-led NDA meeting was attended by 38 parties, including the Shiv Sena and NCP factions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, respectively.
The NDA's parallel show of force demonstrated that the BJP is not taking the Opposition lightly; the latter has already held two major meetings (in Patna and Bengaluru) in less than a month, with a coordination committee set to be formed at the next meeting in Mumbai.
The crucial question is whether these parties have the firepower and cohesion to derail the BJP's juggernaut in 2024. The 26 parties have around 150 Lok Sabha seats, which is less than half of the NDA's current strength. The Congress, which is in power in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh (in addition to being a junior member of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand), remains the main opposition party. Much depends on whether the Congress and its INDIA partners, such as the AAP and the Trinamool Congress, can put aside their differences. According to the Shiv Sena and NCP split, the BJP will go to any length to cripple the Opposition camp.
