UNITY IS STRENGTH, THE ONLY WINNING MANTRA OF OPPOSITIONS

To achieve OBJECTIVE oppositions learn to sacrifice more and get united soon overlooking individual profit and loss. In the interests of one and all ... My dear countrymen! It is no longer a secret that present BJP government came into power in 2014 having an absolute majority with merely 31% of votes which means 69% of votes are divided among various national as well as regional parties. Since this BJP government at the Center is likely to complete its tenure smoothly and already under the process of facing 2019 general election rather more aggressively and claiming to return again with more number of seats. Divided oppositions know quite well that if BJP has to be dethroned in 2019, first of all, they have to be somehow united and stop splitting and wasting their 69% votes. It is only possible if they join together and the fight should be BJP vs Joint Opposition. Major factors to reach such understanding so easily came to their mind after their victories in many by-elections held in various states in the past four years. Wherever opposition fought elections with understanding and with proper consultations among themselves with the clear intentions to defeat BJP, in most of their attempts they succeeded. Therefore, they appear to be serious this time and determined to adopt this foolproof sure winning strategy in the forthcoming general election in 2019. Since NDA is losing its grip over its allies and they are siding with the UPA and, most noticeably today longtime political foes are joining hands and becoming friends for larger public good forgetting their bitter past enmities just to defeat BJP, there must be some valid reasons for this, BJP should think over those causes and be worried about. While BJP loss is UPA automatic gains, UPA too is leaving no stone unturned to maximise allies to its side. BJP is not far behind but very rigorously trying to make inroads wherever possible, in every nook and corner of India by hook or crook particularly in smaller states and in southern part of Indian states so as to make up their losses in northern states thereby increasing their strength and also to cover up their losses up to some extent. It is worth mentioning here that it’s not a mean achievement when they successfully form their Government in Assam and unbelievably formed their own government in Tripura snatching the power from the then very renowned and powerful government of Manik Sarkar of CPI(M). This was a bolt from the blue for them from BJP. Because they CPI(M) were recovering from their humiliating defeat in West Bengal by grass root leader, Mamta Banerji of Trinamool Congress. Nobody had even imagined in dream nor CPI( M) cadre also that their 34-year powerful reign will be destroyed so easily single-handedly by dare-devil Mamta Banerji. “Challenges before opposition” There are vast differences between regional leaders and leaders with national perception. While regional leaders are very powerful in their respective states but when the question comes for national representation, they appear to be dwarf. If they get united to serve the national purpose, at the same time their interests clashes among allies during state elections where they have to fight each other. This is the reason there is undue delay in forming a joint coalition. Almost every party has differences with each other in respective states over their interests. This is why a great deal of sacrifice needed on the part of all regional parties, they shall have to totally discard personality clashes and egos among themselves and develop the zeal and spirit of unity as shown in 1977 when entire oppositions get united on a call from Jai Prakash Narain to defeat Indira Gandhi. Janta Party was formed, got success in the election and Morarji Desai became its PM. Alternatively, make the state wise clear strategy as made in recent past UP by-elections where Akhilesh of (SP) and Mayawati of (BSP) understanding clicked favourably and SP bagged both the Lok Sabha seats of Phulpur and Gorakhpur. Problem with the coalition government is this that they reluctantly complete their full term as its demands discipline and strict adherence to policies once formulated must for a smooth functioning of the government. Since there are only two parties at the National level, Congress and BJP. From BJP side, Modi Ji is already a declared PM ready for long innings, unfortunately, a projected candidate from Congress, Rahul Gandhi is not as tall a leader like towering leader Modi. This is the dilemma country is facing today and there is a rumour everywhere that since there is no alternative ( TINA factor ) to Modi insight they are helpless to re-elect Modi in 2019. History is witness to the facts that when such situations develop there are shinning personalities emerge from nowhere. India is a country with a vast pool of hidden and invisible talents come out only either in challenging situations or in the nick of time. So there is nothing to worry about who is there to replace Modi. The same question is being asked often right from first PM, Jawaharlal Lal Nehru to date. Who knows Maybe emerging candidate comes out to be a better performer. Nobody in the world exactly predicts the mood of the Indian electorates. How the situations turn at the last moment has always been a mystery here even for poll pundits as already experienced in past when Indian electorates had, most of the time, given unimaginable verdicts just contrary to the predictions. We have seen in the past whenever oppositions got united they had been defeating the opponents at centre howsoever tall and powerful they may be. Indira Gandhi had to step down when she had the commanding majority of 303 seats and in next election 372 seats respectively during 04th LokSabha in the year, 1967 to 1970. After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi became the PM with 414 Loksabha seats. Definitely, such a resounding victory was not due to sympathy votes only but mainly due to divided oppositions. He too has to leave office because he was challenged by joint oppositions. Later on, same circumstances came in the year 2004 when Atal Bihari Bajpai was at its peak with a very popular slogan of “India Shining” and same TINA (there is no alternative) factor was present. Despite that, he had to quit office because oppositions got together and Manmohan Singh took over. Again Manmohan Singh of UPA had to get down in 2014 under a coalition (NDA) of 48 parties and Modi took charge of prime ministership. So it’s an established fact that whenever joints oppositions have challenged unitedly to the power at Center, they had to face humiliating defeats and Congress and BJP both have better experienced it. Therefore, TINA factor is no longer relevant now nor it ever be otherwise we would have not seen so many prime ministers in quick succession who had the least possibility to become PM of India. Some of them like - V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, P.V. Narshimha Rao, H.D. Deo Gowda, Indra Kumar Gujral, and Manmohan Singh ....etc. Jai Hind. Writer- Sinha.P.K. 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