HYDERABAD: At a time when a fragmented opposition has been unable to put up a fight against the Modi-led government, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the presidential elections in July 2022 can prove to be an inflection point for the opposition, provided the next round of assembly elections goes the oppositions’ way. Before India elects its next president in 2022, there will be assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur.
In recent assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the opposition has demonstrated the ability to check the BJP-NDA government, Tewari said on Saturday while participating virtually in a panel discussion on ‘Does India Lack an Effective Opposition?’ — part of ISB Leadership Summit.
“The national alternative to BJP-NDA will not emerge before May 2023 primarily because some of the major players are people who have state governments to run and the economy is not in the best of shape. Coupled with that, there is abuse and misuse of government instrumentalities...,” Tiwari said.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena member of Parliament (MP) Priyanka Chaturvedi pointed out that the Maharashtra model, wherein three political parties from different ideological backgrounds (Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP) have come together, offers a good reference point for opposition parties to agree on a common minimum programme and put up a united front.
However, AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that the need of the hour for the opposition is to have a different ideology from that of the BJP if it wants to connect with the people. “What is the difference between non-BJP parties and BJP party? You support (revoking of) Article 370. Why did Stan Swamy die? Because you supported Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)... you are waiting for the inevitable to happen so that the people of India get tired of Narendra Modi…But you cannot win by default, you have to have an ideology and set a narrative,” he said.
