NEW DELHI: On the day BJP and allies sealed the deal to form the next govt, the opposition said it will take “appropriate steps” in the future to “realise the people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP govt”, in a clear bid to create uncertainty about the coming NDA regime in which the BJP will depend on the allies to make the numbers. The opposition dubbed the Modi rule as “fascist”.
Stalwarts of the INDIA bloc met Wednesday for over two hours to discuss the election results, with sources saying that most of the parties expressed the wish to form the govt but conceded that it was difficult to stop the BJP now that it has stitched the alliances.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters that “people’s mandate has given a befitting reply to BJP and its politics of hate, corruption and deprivation”. He said the mandate is “in defence of the Constitution of India and against price rise, unemployment and crony capitalism, and also to save democracy.” He assured that the INDIA bloc will continue to fight against the “fascist rule” of BJP led by Modi.
“We will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise the people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP govt. This is our decision that whatever promises we have made to the people, we will keep,” Kharge said, flanked by opposition biggies including Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Rahul Gandhi, M K Stalin, Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, Sitaram Yechury, Tejashwi Yadav, Dipankar Bhattacharya, among others.
In what sounded like an invite to BJP allies to defect, Kharge said, “INDIA alliance welcomes all parties which share its fundamental commitment to the values enshrined in the Preamble to our Constitution and to its many provisions for economic, social and political justice.”
The post-meeting photo op and remarks showed that the opposition believes it is not possible to stake claim after falling short of the ruling NDA despite a good performance. But the feeling among the allies is that running a coalition would test Modi because of his “dictatorial attitude”, and his hard agenda and the desire for absolute control can repel partners. “There can be realignment in the future. That is the meaning of the statement about ‘taking appropriate steps at an appropriate time’,” senior participants in the meeting explained.
Sources said Pawar, who is seen as the best exponent in power games, explained the situation and advised “let us wait and watch the political developments”. The same view was offered by the Congress brass.
The meeting was attended by N K Premachandran (RSP), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha (AAP), T R Baalu (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP), Arvind Sawant and Sanjay Raut (ShIv Sena), Sitaram Yechuri (CPM) and D Raja (CPI), among others.
Concern was also expressed that BJP govt could resume its “weaponising of agencies” and “breaking of parties” once it is back in saddle. The apprehension of harassment of opposition parties was expressed by more than one leader, sources said.
Sources said the meeting also lauded the performance in UP, West Bengal and Maharashtra, which severely dented the BJP tally. However, there was lament about the relatively low performance in Jharkhand, Bihar and some other states. Members suggested that steps should be taken to make INDIA bloc more dynamic.
Stalwarts of the INDIA bloc met Wednesday for over two hours to discuss the election results, with sources saying that most of the parties expressed the wish to form the govt but conceded that it was difficult to stop the BJP now that it has stitched the alliances.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters that “people’s mandate has given a befitting reply to BJP and its politics of hate, corruption and deprivation”. He said the mandate is “in defence of the Constitution of India and against price rise, unemployment and crony capitalism, and also to save democracy.” He assured that the INDIA bloc will continue to fight against the “fascist rule” of BJP led by Modi.
“We will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise the people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP govt. This is our decision that whatever promises we have made to the people, we will keep,” Kharge said, flanked by opposition biggies including Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Rahul Gandhi, M K Stalin, Akhilesh Yadav, Abhishek Banerjee, Sitaram Yechury, Tejashwi Yadav, Dipankar Bhattacharya, among others.
In what sounded like an invite to BJP allies to defect, Kharge said, “INDIA alliance welcomes all parties which share its fundamental commitment to the values enshrined in the Preamble to our Constitution and to its many provisions for economic, social and political justice.”
The post-meeting photo op and remarks showed that the opposition believes it is not possible to stake claim after falling short of the ruling NDA despite a good performance. But the feeling among the allies is that running a coalition would test Modi because of his “dictatorial attitude”, and his hard agenda and the desire for absolute control can repel partners. “There can be realignment in the future. That is the meaning of the statement about ‘taking appropriate steps at an appropriate time’,” senior participants in the meeting explained.
Sources said Pawar, who is seen as the best exponent in power games, explained the situation and advised “let us wait and watch the political developments”. The same view was offered by the Congress brass.
The meeting was attended by N K Premachandran (RSP), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha (AAP), T R Baalu (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP), Arvind Sawant and Sanjay Raut (ShIv Sena), Sitaram Yechuri (CPM) and D Raja (CPI), among others.
Concern was also expressed that BJP govt could resume its “weaponising of agencies” and “breaking of parties” once it is back in saddle. The apprehension of harassment of opposition parties was expressed by more than one leader, sources said.
Sources said the meeting also lauded the performance in UP, West Bengal and Maharashtra, which severely dented the BJP tally. However, there was lament about the relatively low performance in Jharkhand, Bihar and some other states. Members suggested that steps should be taken to make INDIA bloc more dynamic.