Why do the opposition leaders always fail to counter the central government? Well, bereft of any strong issue to slam the government, leaders like Rahul Gandhi end up attacking the government on the issues with merely any facts and figures. As a consequence, they fall flat on their face. This is how they end up being BJP’s star campaigner. Isn’t it funny?
Well, what else can be expected from Rahul Gandhi? Now, the star campaigner is back with yet another statement that shows his ability as a politician.
Rahul Gandhi wants the opposition to ‘unite’
After facing a humiliating defeat in all the five states that witnessed assembly elections, Rahul seemingly has gone soft in his head. He has forgotten that the attempt to unite the opposition will not work in favour of the Congress party. Thus, he has urged the Opposition parties that are against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS to come together. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday, “Opposition parties that are against RSS and Narendra Modi should come together. Discussions are ongoing on how they should come together, what should be the framework, and what has to be developed.”
He gave the statement after meeting RJD leader Sharad Yadav. Yadav, however, showed his ‘concern’ towards the country saying that “He is concerned about the country and that there is a need to work for the weaker sections of the society.”
When asked about whether Gandhi should become Congress president, Yadav said, “Why not? Rahul Gandhi works for the party 24X7 and I think he should become the president of the party. The Congress should make him president.”
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi referred to Yadav as his “guru”. He stated, “All of us are facing this challenge. We have to bring the country together, we have to take the country on the path of brotherhood again. He was unwell for a long time, I am happy that he is fighting fit now. He has taught me a lot about politics.”
A look at the ‘united’ opposition
Prashant Kishor, a unifying force among the anti-BJP parties of the country, was hoping to bring together to further his own political career. He enjoys a good rapport with many opposition leaders – among them Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, DMK supremo M K Stalin, AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal, and fence-sitters such as YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. He has worked with Rahul Gandhi in the past as well.
Read more: Ego clash between Kejriwal and Mamata stands in the way of a United opposition against PM Modi
Last year, he met many opposition leaders to make a strategy against BJP. Mamata Banerjee too wanted the opposition to be united against BJP. But, here comes the twist. While Mamata wanted to unite with Congress ahead of the 2024 elections, she was harbouring the dreams of being chosen as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the opposition.
Meanwhile, both Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal were taking a series of steps to ensure the permanent ruination of the Congress party. Mamata Banerjee had even gone forward with an all-out attack against the Gandhi-run Congress, saying it is failing to recognise the need for the opposition to unite. She had said, “Modiji is going to be more powerful because of the Congress… because the Congress is the BJP’s TRP (television rating points). If they (the Congress) cannot take a decision… the country will suffer. Why (should) the country suffers…they have had enough opportunity.”
Arvind Kejriwal’s strategy to beat the BJP was a bit different. He was playing the soft Hindutva card in Goa. Arvind Kejriwal, before the recently concluded assembly polls, had promised free pilgrimage to Ayodhya and various other religious centres if the party is voted to power in Goa in the 2022 Assembly polls. Mamata Banerjee must be annoyed with Kejriwal’s announcements.
A united opposition does not actually work as these opposition leaders could not come together. And until they do not, their dreams of a united opposition mounting a collective fight against the BJP will remain just that – unfulfilled dreams.
And this one-upmanship is even before the election seat distribution. Even if they come together now the fight will intensify when it came to who gets how many seats to contest the election.