Need to work together to dislodge BJP: Mamata

In a rare show of opposition unity, at least 12-odd non-BJP parties, led by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, shared the dais and jointly called for the ouster of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

The parties who came together at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata included the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samajwadi Party, Aam Admi Party, RJD, RLD, DMK, JD(U), TDP, NCP and others. As many as 25 leaders across these parties - that included dissident BJP leaders like Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and Arun Shourie - and ousted JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav - gave a united call of “Modi hathao, desh bachao” (Remove Modi to save the country) in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Banerjee the pivot 

Mamata Banerjee, who played the pivot, to bring together these group of regional opposition leaders under one umbrella (apart from the Congress), reiterated the need for a “one-on-one fight” against the BJP; especially in areas where regional parties can make a difference.

“We need to work together to dislodge the BJP and it should be a united fight with each party taking on the saffron in their strongholds for a one-on-one fight,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said addressing the rally as well the opposition leaders.  Beyond a doubt, Banerjee has been successful in stitching together this motley group or unlikely allies; at least on the face of it. And for the time being.

While DMK chief MK Stalin; Andhra Pradesh CM, Chandrababu Naidu; and former prime minister, HD Deve Gowda, his son and now Karnataka CM, HD Kumaraswamy represented the southern states; hindi heartland leaders included Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party, and Satish Mishra of BSP - emissary of Mayawati.

Hemant Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha; and; Tejaswi Yadav of RJD represented the other Hindi heartland parties. RLD’s Ajit Singh and his son Jayant were present at the rally and expressed support for the upcoming anti-Modi, anti-BJP platform.  The West Indian representation was through Sharad Pawar and his NCP; Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani. Farooq Abdullah and son Omar; along with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was also presents

A further boost came from several leaders of the North East who attended the rally and spoke against the BJP for going ahead with the proposed Citizenship Bill.  The surprise came with the Congress high command in Delhi throwing in its hat and lending support to the “federal front”.   Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented the grand old party and advised against any “division of votes during a one-to-many fight”.

A similar show of opposition unity is expected in Andhra with Chandrababu Naidu taking the lead there; and also in Delhi with Kejriwal being the pivot. “Mamata di has taken an extraordinary initiative to stitch the Opposition parties. We will also hold such Opposition meetings in Amravati and invite others to join,” Naidu said. According to Banerjee, 22 parties are already in this anti-BJP alliance and more will join over the next few months. “We are willing to speak for a federal front irrespective of where it is held, even if it is in Kashmir,” Banerjee said reiterating her support for an unified opposition to take on Modi; and expressing solidarity with Naidu.

No vote division 

Apart from removal of Modi “at any cost”, the parties spoke on the need for a “one-on-one” fight. Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of Opposition Congress in the Lok Sabha, spoke of the need to keep aside differences for the time being.

“Manzil bahut door hai, Raasta bahut kathin hai; Dil mile na mile, Haath mila ke chalo” (Goalposts are far & the path is difficult; despite our differences, we have to tread d path together) he did during the rally.  In fact, former PM HD Deve Gowda too spike in similar lines. “I know it is a Herculean task to put aside differences. But it has to be done to save democracy,” he said.

No PM face 

In fact, the opposition alliance was categorical in not projecting a PM face. The fight, according to Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee, was against Modi and divisive policies of the BJP. “The first priority is to dislodge Modi. We will then take a call as to who can be PM,” Banerjee said. In fact, Mallikarjun Kharge, too felt there was no need to project a PM face immediately.  “People want a new government which is not the BJP,” he said.  Dissident BJP leaders and former lawmakers like Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha pointed out the fight should not look like it is “against one person”; but, “should be issue-based”.

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