'I see remote chances of opposition unity for 2024 Lok Sabha elections'

Ex-J&K CM and DAP chief Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke to TOI’s Subodh Ghildiyal ahead of the launch of his autobiography ‘Azaad’. Excerpts from the interview:
There is so much talk about opposition unity? How do you see it playing out?
I will be very happy if opposition unity takes place. But I see remote chances of this unity. There is a reason for that. As a student of politics, I know that alliance should be between two equals, it can't be between two unequals. Alliance is successful in a state if one party is able to add to another party and vice-versa. But the allies here have zero presence in many states. What can Congress give to TMC, or Akhilesh Yadav (SP)? Zero. There are so many states like this. Then, in Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh etc, other parties are zero and cannot help Congress. There has to be reciprocal symbiosis, where both the parties gain, like trees and creepers. But there is so much talk about it because leaders haven't studied botany (laughs).
Have you been approached by opposition? Will you have alliance in J&K?
Nobody has approached me. I will, so far, be contesting alone in J&K. It's a new party. If I start making alliances, it'll never grow. I want DAP to grow.
Most believe that your autobiography is to spite Congress?
I've been 110% truthful. I have praised one person for an action, but criticised the same person on another issue. It's a very objective book. If I had to hurt Congress, then I will need 10 times more space. I have praised Congress members even where they don't deserve. I don't want to destroy Congress or its leadership, particularly because of 2024 polls.
In J&K, there was heartburn over delimitation? n How is the state politics shaping up and where do you place DAP in it?
DAP is a party to be reckoned with. No party has got the traction with people in such a short time, cutting across religion and region, like DAP. Since 1947, nobody has been able to predict the future politics in J&K. There was heartburn over delimitation for the way it was done. It looked tailormade. It was not based on issues like contiguity, facts etc. But it has happened, and why continue beating the drum about it. Once the commission gave its report, it has been accepted. We have to go ahead with the report and have polls as per the report.
Is BJP unbeatable in 2024?
It depends on public mood. Sometimes things happen that nobody can imagine. There was India Shining in 2004 and BJP lost. UPA-2 did a lot of work but nobody bothered and Narendra Modi was elected.