The Opposition is living in a bubble. And it burst during the RS election

(who has been unceremoniously dumped by the BJP) speaks of extremely poor peoplemanagement skills.

Stung by defeat, some Opposition MPS are privately wondering why the election was fought at all. Might not a consensus candidate been better than exposing faultlines in the opposition at a time when crafting a larger alliance is still a work in progress? Others believe that, just like the BJP stepped back and chose a regional player as its nominee, so, too, should have the Congress.

For instance, the TDP was keen to contest, say sources. Or a candidate may have been chosen from the DMK at a time when the party is on a clear upswing in Tamil Nadu and is being wooed assiduously by every major formation. Even the original idea of a Sharad Pawar-backed NCP nominee may have put some pressure on the Shiv Sena by making regional pride a factor.

Lastly, the Opposition failed to make the Muzaffarpur rapes a national issue, as had happened with the December 16, 2012, Delhi gang rape. Otherwise, Nitish Kumar’s party would have been much more politically tarnished, and choosing a candidate from it nay have posed a risk.

The Congress and several other Opposition parties are playing for basic survival in 2019. Their lack of urgency and anxiety is befuddling.

Barkha Dutt is an awardwinning journalist and author The views expressed are personal

HT FILE The choice of candidate for vice chairman was a strategically smart move. Narendra Modi used this opportunity to mend the party’s relationship with Nitish Kumar