THEre were cracks in the Opposition I.N.D.I. Alliance right since its inception, but the Legislative election results in five States have shown that those cracks are widening every passing day. Every party -- without exception -- is showing shocking double-standards while dealing with their respective political aspirations. Yet, at the same time, most constituents are parties of the I.N.D.I. Alliance. Each party is following its own agenda which unfortunately does not have anything common with other constituents. Despite this, the leaders of I.N.D.I. Alliance constituents are now insisting that they would work together to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. Political observers, however, are not in a mood to take such assertions seriously. They wonder if the current show of unity in the Opposition camp would last even for some time.

 

The assertions of Opposition unity began with the statement of ousted West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee she would now work for strengthening the I.N.D.I. Alliance -- in sharp contrast with her own earlier question: Where is the I.N.D.I. Alliance? However, after she got drubbed badly in the West Bengal Legislative elections, Ms. Banerjee now seems to realise that she has to work for the Opposition alliance. Other constituents of the alliance also have been behaving strangely. In Keralam, the Congress and the Communists -- otherwise constituents of the alliance -- contested the Legislative elections against each other. In Tamil Nadu, the Congress party did not take even take five minutes to quit the alliance with Dravida Munetra Kazagham (DMK) to join the camp led by Mr. Vijay’s Tamiliga Vettri Kazagham (TVK). And back in West Bengal, Congress leader Mr. Rahul Gandhi had made acidic statements against Ms. Mamata Banerjee, holding her responsible for a corrupt regime that paved the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party. All these developments demonstrate how shallow and hollow is the idea of Opposition unity -- particularly against the political scenario after the current Legislative elections in four States and one Union Territory. The entire I.N.D.I. Alliance is a fractured entity with little chance of working together.

 

This has been the actual picture since its inception. And this is the picture now -- of a disparate collection of selfish constituents that cannot hold themselves together. In sharp contrast, after its 240-seat performance in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has made a massive course-correction and emerged victorious in most elections since then. It has demonstrated its fine organisational culture and electoral preparedness. Its rank and file are working for a common goal and the party’s sense of discipline has been exemplary. All these virtues have reflected correctly in the party’s electoral showing since 2024.

 

The general impression, therefore, is that the BJP has made itself invincible. In the current Legislative elections, the I.N.D.I. Alliance demonstrated its cracks, and the BJP demonstrated its united power. The BJP worked as per a well-drawn, pre-meditated plan and succeeded as per the organisational goals. And even before the sounds of victory have died down, the BJP’s think-tank is back at work for the next round elections in the next couple of years. The Opposition camp lacks such a commitment to the cause. Its leaders are all the time cribbing against one another and complain of insensitivity to others. They do not seem to realise that opposing Mr. Narendra Modi cannot be a credible goal by itself. For, such a goal lacks a philosophical credibility which the voters are all the time looking for. The common voters of India have realised by now that the Opposition lacks credibility and capability to stand together against Mr. Narendra Modi and ensure his ouster from power. In Mr. Modi, the BJP has a leader beyond dispute. The Opposition bloc does not have a single person who has such leadership qualities. That is where its real trouble is.