The initiative taken by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao in forming a federal front needs to be looked at in perspective (Page 1, “KCR meets Mamata, pushes ‘federal front’,” December 25). His move to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss such an idea would be of advantage to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which only wants a divided Opposition. The results in the recent Assembly elections point to resentment among the public and a shift toward anti-BJP formations. Unless the Opposition stays united and puts up a united front, it would be a tough task to try to dislodge the BJP. Another major issue as far as the Opposition is concerned is in identifying a common prime ministerial candidate as there are too many aspirants in the Opposition’s ranks. One could sense this after DMK president M.K. Stalin’s support for Congress president Rahul Gandhi as a strong possibility.
V. Ganapathy Subramanian,
Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu
The proposed architects of the front seem to be confused about the shape, structure and contours of the edifice they are proposing to construct. It is true that India’s future is dependent on strengthening its federal polity and that dominant regional parties have a crucial role to play. However, what we don’t need is a third front by another name. People disheartened by right-wing politics or dynastic sycophancy may want to see a truly democratic alternative centred around a strong leader, but they certainly will not fall for any temporary arrangement made to fulfil the political aspirations of regional satraps.
Jagan R.,
Thiruvananthapuram
If Mr. Rao’s real intention is only to defeat the BJP in the coming general election, he should not have initiated another ‘federal front’ but, instead, strengthened the hands of other Opposition leaders including those in the Congress who are trying to form a formidable front in order to defeat the communal-minded BJP. Mr. Rao’s move makes one suspect that it is being mooted by him only to help the BJP divide the Opposition’s votes. Ms. Banerjee and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should distance themselves from such a ‘front’ (Inside pages, “Regional claims garble narrative of Opposition unity”, December 25).
Tharcius S. Fernando,
Chennai