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Opposition’s TINA Factor:SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, by Poonam I Kaushish, 10 July 2010 |
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Political Diary New Delhi, 10 July 2010 Opposition’s TINA Factor SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY By Poonam I Kaushish Victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan. This maxim was proved right once again last week. As the victorious UPA II continues its poweratti strides, the ‘left-out-in-the-cold’ and abandoned communal-secular, Right and Left, friends-turned-enemies came together in a ‘bandh’ to twist the Congress-led UPA Government into a bind. Clearly, politics makes for strange bedfellows and new partners! Till yesterday it was unthinkable that arch enemies ‘communal’ BJP and ‘secular’ Left parties would do business together. Forlorn and dejected Samajwadi’s Mulayam would ‘tango’ with the NDA, simultaneously professing loyalty to the Congress-led UPA. That the Southern TDP, BJD and AIADMK could waltz to the NDA tune. Obliterating the post-Babri Masjid political fault lines, Messers C&S (communal-secular) Opposition tapped into the frustration of the aam aadmi over fuel hike and spiralling prices by organising a largely successful Bharat bandh on July 5. It is moot point whether a JP-like Opposition unity is taking baby steps across India? True, the secularist Marx and communal Modi fell over explaining how it was a coincidence they were on the same side for the successful all-India bandh. Given that aligning with the “communal forces” is akin to showing a Red flag to the Left bull. Of how the comrades stalled UPA-I from doing business for fear that NDA support would taint the Left by association. The BJP, aware that it is fast losing its prime Opposition space to a smattering of other parties like the secular Left and BSP realizes that to survive it has to undergo an image-makeover. Particularly, as the NDA is no longer the ‘giant-killer’ it once was. The BJD has left and others like JD(U)’s Nitish and Shiv Sena intend extracting their pound of flesh. A sullen Mulayam is only upset of being denied a ministerial berth. How then did these “separate” bandhs come fortuitously together? Like it or not, it’s the TINA (there is no alternative) factor that has brought Opposition parties together to take on the UPA II Government. They have tried to raise the ante singularly but miserably failed. Realising that united they stand, divided they fall, all have collectively obliterated the post-Ayodhya political fault lines, buried their inane anathema and misgivings to talk the bull by the horns and put the Congress on the mat. Clearly, these parties want to stand up and be counted. The Left and NDA control 11 State Governments between them. Asserted NDA convenor and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, “It is for the first time in India’s history that all political parties outside Government have come together against the ruling dispensation.” Terming Opposition unity “historic”, they recognize that price rise is a sensitive issue and the aam aadmi is fed-up. True, the intention is not to bring down the Government but if polls were to be held, perhaps the Government would come close to losing. Significantly, two Congress-led states, Maharashtra and Rajasthan witnessed successful bandhs as did the NDA-ruled States. Besides, with six Assembly elections round the corner, the Parties would like to present a mature alternative. Having burnt their fingers prior to the 2009 General Election when the CPM tried to bandy together a Third Front and fell flat on its face. This time round all are hesitant but the aphrodisiac of power is such that regardless of their hue, ideology, leadership's vintage or pedigree, anything and everything is game. Even if it means sleeping with the enemy. In a carefully worded statement, the four Left parties said they would chalk out their future plans “in consultation with secular opposition parties.” True all is not well among the comrades. The West Bengal Chief Minister was opposed to withdrawing support to the UPA-I over the Indo-US N-deal and Party Chief Prakash Karat’s intervention in the State party affairs. But both Brand Buddha and Karat King understand that testing times lie ahead: the crucial 2011 Assembly polls which will decide the Left’s future. For the ruling Congress the bandh has underscored two things. One, the price rise is the most potent issue that has the capacity to undermine the legitimacy of the Government. Remember, it was rise in onion prices that brought down the BJP Government in Delhi during the mid-nineties. Two, it has given a glimpse into the potential the spiraling price issue has to bridge the political differences and increase the Government’s vulnerability to public pressure. Besides, ‘populists’ allies like Bengal’s stormy petrel Mamata and Lalu who prepare for State elections early next year are bound to pressurise the Centre to walk its talk on bringing down inflation and demand fresh schemes to protect people from the back-breaking prices. More. It could also play spoiler in Congress plans to take advantage of divisions in the Opposition ranks, particularly in Rajya Sabha where it faces an acute numerical deficit. Sensing his chance to play UPA pooper, another ally NCP supremo and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar yet again, suddenly unfurled his banner of playing hard ball. He needled the Congress by announcing his plans to set up a non-Congress Secular Democratic Front (SDF) across different States. Regardless of being a part of the Congress-led UPA and being an ally in Maharashtra. His plan, if successful, is to make the Front, into a national level alliance for the 2014 General Elections. In Kerala, the NCP has become a part of the Left Democratic rival of the Congress-led United Democratic Front. Pawar is also actively wooing BJD’s Naveen Patnaik, Bhrigu Pukhan’s faction of the AGP in Assam and Ajit Singh’s RLD, a significant force in western UP. The NCP intends tapping into a divided Congress in Andhra led by YSR Reddy’s son, Jagan Mohan, TDP and Left. Notwithstanding the contradictions, asserted NCP spokesperson, “if Congress doesn’t give us space, we’ll try and find our own.’’ But an unperturbed Congress knows when push comes to shove, Pawar backtracks. For the nowhere-else-to-go UPA allies, RJD’s Lalu and LJP’s Paswan lambasted the NDA “as it was also responsible for price rise”. No matter that both held a combined 'Bihar Bandh' to counter NDA-JD(U) hartal in the State, slammed the Centre and the State Government for failing to contain the sky-rocketing prices. At the same time, as the BJP has begun singing the "we are all together, all united" tune of the Opposition. Despite the deep fissures within. A section of its Parliamentary wing wants to align with the Left and address its concern vis-à-vis the ‘communal’ leaders, read Narinder Modi and Varun Gandhi. The hawks hark back to the Hindutva line. But both factions know only to well that this is the time to play safe and not strain ties with allies in the NDA. As it stands JD (U)’s Nitish has made plain his abhorrence for Modi and Varun. The hunt is on in the BJP for an NDA-acceptable leader. Plainly, with a semblance of unity in the NDA, one can reach tactical unity with a non-BJP Opposition. But what if the NDA itself is divided? It is also a given that the Left will not allow anyone to influence its line. The Congress knows this and is watching the moves of the Opposition indulgently, because unity can be broken with a flick of the finger. It remains to be seen whether greed for power will allow the motley crowd of disparate self-seeking ego-centric leaders to turn the Opposition unity baby-steps into giant strides! ---- INFA (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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