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Message from Kolkata

Kashmir Times. Dated: 1/21/2019 11:22:32 PM

Coalition upsets BJP’s plans but Country needs a united alliance with alternate vision to meet its multiple demands and suit its diversity

There is a clear message from Kolkata's Mahagathbandhan rally, an initiative taken by Trinamool Congress' Mamata Banerjee, that of a powerful alternative to the present regime emerging in the elections. But the message is much more nuanced than the convenient ploy of 'Modi versus All' or 'conspiracy against Modi-raj' that Modi-loyalist media wants to project. Secondly, whether this alternative is effective and good for the country depends on other related questions which need to be grappled with as the country heads towards one of its most exciting and polarised elections. Despite regional players from several states of the country joined by the Congress coming together for a show of strength of Kolkata, it really is not the case of BJP versus the rest, much less Modi versus the rest (a claim that defies the logic and institution of parliamentary polls), as BJP is partnering with at least 40 allies in various parts of the country including Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Jharkhand. However, the BJP led alliance is clearly jolted by several key regional players taking the lead with Congress in tow. That prime minister Narendra Modi feels the utmost desire to dedicate greater part of his speeches at every platform every second day in denouncing the 'allying conspirators' shows the deep levels of tremors that his party and alliance are feeling. As for the erroneous claim of 'Modi factor' or even BJP's strength, the party is not in a position to go to the battle of hustings on all the Lok Sabha seats without formation of alliances in most regional pockets. The discourse thus is a complete misnomer. The only clear calculation from Kolkata's grand rally is that Mahagathbandhan of Congress and several strong regional players, poses a major challenge to the BJP, whether or not Modi retains the lead of his own party in run up to 2019 polls.
Does this Gathbandhan provide a good and viable political alternative? That depends on several factors. The stability of such a formation depends first of all on its capacity and ability to stay united. Though signals from Uttar Pradesh, and earlier Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, on this count have proved to be a bit weak, it is hoped that the Kolkata rally can be a harbinger of renewed strength and vitality and the constituents of this Mahagathbandhan can seek lessons from past mistakes. A bigger imperative however is the forging of an effective alliance, and not just a united one. A simple show of strength is not enough to take on the BJP and its undemocratic politics of intolerance and majoritarianism. The grand alliance needs to think beyond numerical strength to bring it down and instead provide a positive vision of the future and come out with an alternate socio-economic and political model of governance. The questions with respect to diverse shades it represents need to be ably answered through hammering out a common minimum constructive programme which demonstrates the strength of diversity and provide the answers for different aspirations of different peoples in a country as diverse as India. Such genre of coalition politics, earlier unknown in this country, is the key need to address the many lacunae in the country. And, that indeed is the key to the success of the Mahagathbandhan, in which Congress can play a huge role by shedding its flip-flops on policy issues and its habitual arrogance. An apt metaphor of a needle versus the muscular metaphor of gun was invoked by Tejasvi Yadav of Rashtriya Janta Dal at Kolkata to drive home the point of imperativeness of stitching together the diverse regions, identities and political aspirations through the grand alliance. Such an idea needs to go beyond the jumla-baazi and be transposed into a vision document not only for electoral appeal but also for defining the country's future politics. If coalition politics has to evolve for the positive, arrogance and petty politics need to be kept on the sidelines. A common minimum agenda for the common good should instead be the focus.