The INDI Alliance came into being because it was felt that no party alone could challenge the Modi-led NDA. Even after the last Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP could not get a majority on its own, the opposition parties failed to take advantage – as the BJP swept the assembly elections that followed. And its winning spree has continued with its victories in Assam, West Bengal and Puducherry. Only Tamil Nadu and Kerala have held out, but, ironically, the results there have only created more divisions in opposition ranks.
The situation has become so bad that even a social media creation, the Cockroach Janata Party, began to be seen as a ‘youth’ uprising against the government that would open the doors for the opposition’s entry into power. It has not quite made the desired impact on ground zero and, if it does turn into a genuine political party, it will further help in dividing opposition votes against the BJP. No wonder, the BJP has seemed quite sanguine about these developments. (The launch of the ‘Ishq Karo Party’ on social media by former CJI Markandey Katju underlines the possibility of many such entities coming into existence!)
Political analysts have begun to express concern that India might, under PM Modi, become a one-party nation. This, they feel, undermines democratic functioning. Considering the fact that the Congress dominated Indian politics for many years, and did greater damage to democracy than has the BJP, it is a bit much to thus target the present regime. Perhaps there is concern because of the BJP’s Hindutva ideology, but is it worse than the ‘appeasement’ and ‘caste’ politics of the secular parties? Also, it should be noted that a major part of the BJP’s support is because of Modi, considered a ‘development-centric’ leader who is not only taking India forward, but also successfully defending it against external and internal challenges. Things will easily change unless the BJP can throw up a leader of similar ability in the future.
The problem with the INDI Alliance is that the ‘national’ party in its midst, the Congress, remains a threat to the regional parties in their respective states. This contradiction has led to the failure of the alliance to build a common ideological platform other than that of opposing the BJP. So, very little consensus is likely to emerge from the Delhi meeting other than platitudes. In fact, the differences may be further exposed, as parties continue to implode at the state level.
