New Delhi: Post Pulwama, the anti-BJP formulations are finding themselves at odds with the nationalist narrative being spun by PM Modi. Not only has the spotlight turned on the aerial strikes, the Opposition pre-election campaign itself has lost some of its momentum.
But the confusion may prove a blessing in disguise for the Congress because the Samajwadi party and the BSP have been constrained to rethink their strategy and may have to factor in the Congress in their electoral calculus. At least, some kind of tactical understanding on certain seats is possible.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist is the first off the block: It has proposed to the Congress in West Bengal that the two parties should not field candidates against each other on six seats currently held by them. For the rest of the seats in the state, the party said, a decision would be taken on March 8.
It, of course, remains to be seen whether there would be a tacit understanding between the TMC and the Congress, too, in a few ‘sensitive’ seats, which the former feels are a tough nut to crack. According to TMC sources, there is a little softening of stance vis-à-vis the Congress as far as consolidation of the vote is concerned in certain seats. However, the AAP remains off the Congress radar.