The present political opposition in India needs even a sliver of this famous quote to be successful. It’s hard to discern whether the opposition’s demise was due to ineptitude or the government’s pro-people measures. Weak political opposition is bad for democracies, but in this instance, it’s the opposition’s lack of interest in the people.
Speculation abounds over whether the opposition parties would challenge Mr. Modi and his party in 2024. The fact that this topic is being raised two years before the next general election shows the opposition parties’ instability. They should respect voters’ will.
The concerns are more important because the BJP, despite being in office for eight years, continues to bat first, which the opposition should do. The opposition has corruption charges, family infighting, and other challenges, but it’s primarily to blame for its condition. Opposition parties don’t appear confident or eager to challenge BJP in 2019 LS elections. Its leaders disgrace the party by their comments and behaviour, leaving the membership puzzled and on edge.
Look at Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary’s recent remark against President Droupadi Murmu. This showed the emotional condition and ideology of India’s oldest party. The BJP informs the public everyday on government activities and development aims.
In corruption trials, the opposition has only accused the government of misusing anti-corruption authorities like the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Why don’t they show bravery and tenacity by going to court? They lack character and support.
Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who rode a countrywide anti-corruption wave in 2013, has been quieter in recent months. He’s no longer protective of its leaders and now worries about Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress lost its industry and commerce minister and education minister, Chatterjee. Chatterjee was also All India Secretary General. Mithun Chakraborty’s claim that a number of TMC MLAs are in communication with the BJP has fuelled rumours that they would defect before the polls.
Congress still has concerns with the National Herald. Samajwadi Party is organising its internal issues. Almost every political party is focused on survival, not destroying the BJP. People don’t trust them after their pre-election alliances collapsed. Again, this is BJP’s own conflicting reasoning.
Rising commodity prices can’t be used to pressure the government, either. They have every right to blame the Modi administration for diverting emphasis away from inflation and unemployment, but they don’t know what’s driving the populace.
Opponents may say Modi has used nationalism and Hindu nationalism to distract from poverty, inflation, and unemployment. People aren’t experiencing the price rise quite as much as they did a decade ago, and they’re optimistic that infrastructure developments would generate employment. Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana, Jandhan Yojana, PM Awas, and Swachhata Abhiyan help the poor, especially in Uttar Pradesh. Many in the middle class support these measures; they may not immediately benefit, but they feel the government has good intentions and is trying to progress the country. Assembly results confirm this.
Uttar Pradesh, headed by Yogi Adityanath, has immense potential and may contribute to the BJP’s third consecutive term in office at the centre. Yogi’s crusade against the mafia and criminals, his efforts to uplift the poor and deprived without favour or prejudice, and his commitment to making the state the number one economy in the country in the years to come have widespread support, and the party’s top brass will try to exploit this in the upcoming elections.
UP is one of the few states where government programmes have aided the most needy. Yogi’s commitment to social justice has been more effective than the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj’s. The government built hundreds of dwellings, bathrooms, latrines, and LPG tanks. Women’s welfare and Ayushman Bharat health insurance have also been addressed. The government raised pensions for thousands of pensioners, widows, and disabled people. Yogi’s ambition has sped up infrastructure construction.
Yogi’s government emphasised infrastructure development. The BJP may emphasise expressways like the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Expressways and the Ganga Expressway, as well as new airports, the One District One Pipe initiative, tap water in rural regions, and industrial and defence corridors.
Could the opposition rebut this? How? Who knows? Political scholars say the major parties are gone. Progress and public good will be rethought in 2024, experts suggest.