Debating the political game plan for 2019 elections at veteran Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai’s book launch on Wednesday, two NDA allies – Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal – said that partners in the coalition must be treated like they were during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure.
The first suggestion in this direction came from SAD lawmaker Naresh Gujral, who said that the NDA should stop treating its allies with “kid gloves.” When asked by Sardesai if his party had just put the Modi-Shah regime on notice, Gujral rushed to explain that regional parties have their own space, which the BJP must respect.
As the debate moved forward, Gujral was seconded by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who could not escape from Sardesai’s questions, even though he wasn't officially a panelist. When asked if the Sena, the “oldest Hindutva party,” would support the BJP in 2019, Raut reiterated his party’s stance that it would go at the hustings alone.
Raut, nevertheless, added that what his party wanted was an “NDA that existed during Vajpayee’s era.” Raut, whose party sent 18 lawmakers to the Lok Sabha in 2014, feels the present-day NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not how it should have been in the first place.
These statements, first by the SAD’s Gujral and seconded by the Shiv Sena’s Raut, express a lack of confidence in the way the coalition has been run and may further weaken PM Modi’s bargaining power, should his party fall short of seats in the imminent general elections of 2019.
BJP’s Sharp Response to Sena
The BJP was being represented by party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, who had a rather snide response for the Sena’s Raut – a troublesome ally that recently walked out during the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, a day after the BJP said the regional powerhouse would vote in its favour.
We also want a leader like Balasaheb Thackeray.Gaurav Bhatia, BJP Spokesperson
But it was not just the Sena that came in Bhatia’s line of fire. The BJP spokesperson said that the Opposition was merely vying to regain its lost throne and was not dedicated to the welfare of the nation. Bhatia cited the TMC and the Congress’ ‘opposition’ to the National register of Citizens in Assam as attempts to woo their respective political vote banks.
Bhatia also questioned as to why Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee “always highlight cases in which Muslims are attacked but fall silent when Hindus are killed”. PM Modi and his government in contrast, Bhatia asserted, worked with a positive agenda.
Is Your CM also a PM Face?
Sardesai’s book titled ‘Newsman’ focuses on what it means to track India in the Modi era. A large part of the debate, hence, focused on what Sardesai called the PM’s presidential style of conducting election campaigns. Sardesai asked his panelists who would lead the Opposition’s charge in a political narrative in which Modi vs the rest has become the norm.
The first response came from Trinamool Congress lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who said it was the agenda of her party to defeat the communal forces unleashed by the BJP. Dastidar, in particular, highlighted the plight of women and Dalits in the country, adding that “women are raped and maimed” on a regular basis in the country.
When asked if her chief minister was also her party’s prime ministerial face or whether her party would endorse Rahul Gandhi as PM, Dastidar fell shy of an answer.
On being asked if her party would happily tie up with the Congress and the Left, Dastidar said the TMC “would cross that bridge” only upon reaching its edge.
Dastidar’s vague comments come after West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s recent meeting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. “ We discussed the possibility of all of us contesting elections in the future,” Banerjee had told ANI after emerging from the meeting.
Owaisi Bets on Regional Powerhouses
After quizzing Dastidar, Sardesai turned to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, asking him if his party was helping the BJP cut through the Congress votes. “If all of you believe that the BJP has to be got rid of, why don’t you join this coalition as well?” Rajdeep asked, looking at Owaisi.
Owaisi responded saying that any attempt to pitch PM Modi directly against Rahul Gandhi will only strengthen the BJP’s hand.
Asserting the individual power of regional parties, Owaisi said that some people in Delhi think “that the country can be run on the wisdom of the BJP and the Congress.” Such a perception, Owaisi said, is wrong, and ignores the true talent of regional powerhouses.
‘Won’t Let This Election Turn into a Hindu-Muslim Fight’
The Congress was represented in the debate by Sachin Pilot. When faced with the same question, Pilot said his party would not hesitate to stitch together a coalition in each and every state.
He also questioned the Modi government and some of the controversial statements made by some of its ministers. The concept of mob lynching, Pilot claimed, did not exist four years ago and has suddenly risen to prominence.
Raking up the judges’ presser in January this year, Pilot said old institutions like the Supreme Court are being destroyed. This, he asserted, was parallel to a trend that questions the patriotism of everyone who dares to questions the BJP and who are then asked to “go to Pakistan.”
Having stunned many with his longing for the Vajpayee touch in governance, Gujral finally made up his mind to defend the NDA. He said an increase in MSP has changed the lives of farmers, and must be communicated to the agrarian community effectively.
On whether PM Modi would return for a second term in 2019, Gujral maintained that no alliance partner would go astray. Even if the BJP plunges below the 200 mark, PM Modi would still, Gujral believes, hold sway and manage the numbers with help from regional parties.
The SAD leader, however, maintained that the days of a majority government are over. 2019, he predicted, would herald the resurgence of coalition politics.
This, Gujral says, will definitely bring about a ‘change’ in the way PM Modi’s power flows.
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