BY THE EDITOR
The attempt by the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to capture power at the Centre for the third consecutive term has become very difficult as the opposition parties have changed tactics by remaining united and determined to sink all their differences until their goal is achieved. Reinstated Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi has emerged stronger and more pragmatic in his approach because while under suspension during these last few months he has learnt a lot by meeting people of diverse background and positively interacting with them. The Bharat Jodo Yatra of 3,750 km from Kanyakumari to Srinagar has rattled the BJP leadership and his next challenge is to undertake the Gujarat – Meghalaya west-to-east Bharat Jodo Yatra. Earlier Rahul Gandhi has already covered Manipur when it was burning. Attacking the Prime Minister he said that Modi was putting the entire country in flames starting with Manipur followed by Haryana and what will happen next no one knows. As it is at present Manipur has been divided into two parts which is indeed a great tragedy.
Tensions in the BJP camp are very high and seem to surge despite attempts by leaders to re-energize the NDA and reaching out to even non-NDA political parties to widen and strengthen NDA. Modi is also trying to woo political parties that are neutral such as YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh and Bharat Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha. Opposition unity under the banner Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) which is gaining strength faster than expected has un-nerved many in the BJP. There is also no doubt that Rahul has become a bigger and more matured political leader of the Congress as the days pass by especially after the Bharat Jodo Yatra. During the Karnataka Vidhan Sabha election in May 2023 his political acumen which has been put to the test has worked wonder
and the BJP has been humiliated in spite of the hectic campaign by Narendra Modi who all along preached that he is invincible. This has emboldened INDIA to march ahead with renewed vigour and confidence.
The change in the Congress and the new image of Rahul have infused fresh energy and strength among the opposition since they are considered as equal partners to other smaller political parties. The efforts of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to bring anti-BJP political parties on a single platform has really proved successful. As it is the INDIA alliance has more political parties with greater regional strength than the NDA partners. Such a situation certainly poses a big challenge to the BJP and PM Modi. The opposition alliance has so far met twice to chalk out strategies for the coming Lok Sabha elections in early 2024. The third meeting is scheduled on August 31 and September 1 in Mumbai may bring more clarity in the formula for seat-sharing arrangement.