- As you are aware, ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party assumed power at the Centre in a landmark win in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition ranks have left no stone unturned in attempting to halt the relentless march of the saffron brigade. However, while the BJP has won several elections, it has also lost a few key states over the years. Remember, Rajasthan was captured by the Grand Old Party. The Congress won Madhya Pradesh as well, but the BJP was able to destabilize the government by luring MLAs into its fold. Yes, the BJP leadership in Karnataka’s Operation Lotus was also at work in Madhya Pradesh. In the interim, the BJP failed to make an impression on the Himachal Pradesh electorate, losing to the Congress.
PC: Supplied
- Of course, the BJP’s dominance in Northeastern states continued with another convincing victory in Tripura. Despite a much-improved performance, the BJP failed to prevent Mamata Banerjee’s TMC from retaining power in West Bengal. On THE OTHER HAND, the BJP’s failure to retain power in Karnataka must have harmed its prospects significantly. Congress’s aggressive and well-thought-out campaigning on the back of five guarantee schemes significantly impacted the outcome. The thumping majority victory of the Congress has resurrected the flagging morale of the rank and file across the country and may have provided a template for taking on the BJP’s might.
- In the interim, the country witnessed Rahul Gandhi’s much-publicized Bharat Jodo Yatra, which provided a significant boost to the Congress’ efforts to gain attention and traction among the electorate. Undeniably, the scion’s walk across the country boosted Congress’s election machinery, energizing party workers like never before. A spectacular performance in Karnataka was the icing on the cake, prompting party leaders to devise a strategy to challenge the ruling dispensation at the Centre before the crucial Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The Karnataka victory also gave Congress an advantage in positioning itself in front of other opposition parties, which were attempting to project a united front by dismissing the GOP’s prowess.
PC: ANI
- The question here is how effective or impactful those opposition efforts will be in forming a joint opposition platform to keep the saffron party at bay. Remember that state assembly elections are fought on local issues, whereas general elections are fought on completely different issues. In this regard, none of the opposition leaders come close to the Prime Minister’s popularity, charisma, acceptability, or visibility. The opposition is now divided on several fronts, as many regional parties are pitted against either the BJP or the Congress in states. As a result, the prospect of finding common ground to mount an effective counter-offensive against the BJP appears extremely bleak. Let us wait and see what comes up in the end.
