The speed with which the Opposition parties have responded to the ‘national alternative’ proposal advanced by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao only shows the level of political unease that has crept in the Opposition camp after the BJP’s resounding victory in the Northeast (“Mamata starts talks for regional front” and “KCR draws up plans for new front”, both March 6). Ms. Banerjee too may have taken cognisance of Bengali voters in Tripura favouring the BJP. It is no secret that the Opposition is averse to working under the leadership of Congress president Rahul Gandhi who is still perceived to be a leader in the making and despite the moral victory claimed by him in Gujarat which now suddenly looks distant. But the Opposition parties should realise that coalition governments led by parties other than the Congress have not lasted long. The ball is now in the Congress’s court to take a pragmatic view and project a leader other than Mr. Gandhi to lead the Opposition front for the sake of a viable alternative and to be of political significance. It is possible that the Congress may be playing a waiting game and looking at the results in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before making its move.
V. Subramanian,
Chennai
The outcome in Tripura seems to have triggered a flurry of activity in the Opposition ranks, with “save federalism” appearing to be the new rallying point of State-centric parties. If the Gujarat Assembly poll verdict offered the prospect of the Congress becoming the pull factor of a coalition that could take on the BJP’s election-winning machinery, the results in the Northeast seem to have changed the narrative. Despite the initial euphoria around the concept, it appears to be a case of haste. The BJP’s electoral success has much to do with its ability to weave a narrative around its political intent and agenda for governance. The Opposition will need a powerful counter-narrative, and not just arithmetic, if it wants to stall the BJP’s surge.
Padmini Raghavendra,
Secunderabad