Why India cannot put up a United Opposition front in General elections against BJP the ruling party v1
India’s opposition parties have struggled to organize a united front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for several reasons
- Ideological differences and power struggles between the opposition parties, which include the Indian National Congress party and various regional parties. These parties have found it difficult to set aside their differences and present a cohesive alliance
- The BJP’s ability to lure away opposition leaders through corruption investigations and other means, weakening the opposition from within. This includes the recent defection of Nitish Kumar, a key architect of the opposition alliance, to the BJP.
- The Congress party’s dominance demands within the alliance, which have alienated some regional partners. The opposition has failed to find common ground and craft a compelling narrative to challenge Modi.
- Modi’s continued popularity and the BJP’s electoral dominance, which has made it difficult for the opposition to present a viable alternative. The opposition lacks a pan-India leader who can match Modi’s stature and charisma.
Despite their efforts to unite, the opposition alliance known as INDIA appears to be cracking under the strain of internal divisions and the BJP’s political maneuvering
.The opposition faces an uphill battle to unseat Modi and the BJP in the upcoming 2024 general elections
Meanwhile, naeMKejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, was arrested on March 21, 2024 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam case. Kejriwal is a prominent opposition leader and the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He first came into the political spotlight in 2011 as the face of the anti-corruption movement in India.
Kejriwal’s political journey began when he led AAP to victory in the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections, forming the government with external support from the Congress party. However, his first tenure as Chief Minister lasted only 49 days, as he resigned after failing to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly.
In the subsequent 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP secured a landslide victory, winning 67 out of 70 seats. Kejriwal has since led the AAP government in Delhi, focusing on issues such as health, education, water, and electricity supply.
Under Kejriwal’s leadership, AAP has emerged as the third-largest national party in India, with a presence in several states beyond Delhi and Punjab. The party’s recent victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections was a significant step in establishing it as a political force beyond the capital.
However, Kejriwal’s recent arrest in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam case marks a departure from his earlier image as a leader committed to fighting corruption. The ED has alleged that Kejriwal was the “kingpin and key conspirator” in the scam, involving the formulation of the excise policy to favor certain persons and the demanding of kickbacks from liquor businessmen.
The arrest of Kejriwal, just weeks before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, has prompted a strong reaction from opposition parties, who have termed it as “vendetta politics” and a “vindictive misuse of central agencies” by the BJP-led government. The AAP has ruled out Kejriwal’s resignation and stated that he will continue to govern the state from jail. Kejriwal’s arrest has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the AAP’s electoral prospects, especially considering that many other senior leaders of the party are either incarcerated or politically marginalized. However, the party has vowed to continue its fight against the BJP and has announced nationwide protests in response to Kejriwal’s arrest. AAP is ruling Delhi Punjab. Under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership, AAP has emerged as the third-largest national party in India, with a presence in several states beyond Delhi and Punjab. The search results also show that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is currently the ruling party in 12 states, either on its own or as part of a coalition.
The Congress party, which was previously the second-largest national party, has seen its number of states reduced to just 3 – Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana.
So in summary, the key states where AAP is currently ruling are Delhi and Punjab, while the BJP is the dominant party ruling the most states in India currently.
