Keeping allies united is Oppn’s challenge
The opposition, which wanted to give a tough fight to the Narendra Modi government for next month’s presidential elections, is now facing a key challenge of keeping a united front.
In the first meeting of the opposition sub-group formed to find a probable name for the post on Wednesday, the parties could not agree to announce its candidate. Moreover, there were hints that some partners may slip away.
Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party has hinted that if the government puts a Maharashtrian candidate, it may have to think otherwise. On Wednesday, NCP leader Praful Patel said the opposition should wait as the government wants to talk to them. The Congress-led 17-party bloc has given up its hopes about both the factions of the AIADMK and Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
It is also not very hopeful about poaching the Shiv Sena from the ruling squad, even as it is disgruntled and maintained its distance from the BJP on many occasions. “We had approached the Shiv Sena. They told us that they will maintain an independent position,” said a senior leader.
Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal has remained non-committal. The BJD and Aam Aadmi Party have skipped both the meetings of the opposition parties. Patnaik is increasingly wary about the rise of the BJP in his state, the opposition, however, has not been able to leverage it to its benefit.
There are also question marks over Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal(United) after he skipped the opposition meeting on May 25 but joined a dinner hosted by the PM. JD(U) representative Sharad Yadav was initially reluctant to join Wednesday’s meeting but was pursued to stay back.
TMC representative Derek O’Brien did not commit to any decisions. He merely maintained that he has to “consult” his leader Mamata Banerjee.