India
is all set to enter coalition era with the single-party rule appears to be
ending. As the situation obtains now neither the BJP nor the Congress is in a
position to form government at the Centre or in States on their own. The BJP,
perhaps, for the last time got a massive majority in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
In this year’s general elections—in April and May—the saffron party does not
appear to get a majority and has to form coalition if it emerges as Single
largest party. So is the case with the Congress. Coalition means instability
and lack of good administration. Remember ‘Ayaram, Gayaram” days of sixties and
then prevalent instability.
In
recent elections, barring Chhattisgarh, Congress could not get absolute
majority in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and the party had to seek support of
Independents and smaller parties like BSP and Samajwadi party to form the
government. Down south, Telangana was an exception.
In
key state of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have decided to join
hands and keep the Congress out of the alliance. The Congress has decided it
would contest the poll on its own. This means division of votes and better
chances for the BJP whom the BSP and SP have committed to defeat. Sworn enemies
till recently one wonders how long BSP and SP alliance will continue? As an
observer has to put it, “BSP-SP alliance can continue till Akhilesh bows to
wishes of Mayawati”.
However,
as a gesture of goodwill the BSP-SP combine has decided not to contest Amethi
and Rae Bareli seats held by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi respectively. The
Congress may reciprocate the gesture by not fighting for the seats that SP
leader Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh and Mayawati may contest if they are in
electoral race.
This
indicates that the doors might still be open for the Congress to join up with
SP and BSP in a post poll arrangement should the opportunity or necessity
arise. Plus, it is also likely that a pre-poll tie up with the Congress would
see SP and BSP votes being transferred to the Grand Old Party but not the other
way round. However, the SP-BSP combine’s main target is BJP.
Inclusion
of Congress in SP-BSP alliance would have made it even more formidable. For,
even if the party does not have an organization to boast of, it would have
cemented the minority vote completely, and also brought a psychological plus to
the table—of imparting a national character in what is after all going to be an
all India battle. The UP alliance is expected to set the tempo for 2019 general
election and give a fillip to similar efforts in other states.
Explanations
have been put forward why was Congress not on board—the party’s demand for 20
seats after its three-state win (whereas BSP-SP were willing to give it only
8); Mayawati’s fear that an alliance with a “reviving” Congress may persuade
Dalits to look at India’s Grand Old Party again; and the view that the Congress
outside the alliance was more likely to damage BJP and cut into its Upper caste
vote, particularly with Brahmins restive under a Thakur CM.
The
BJP had won a whooping 71 out of 80 seats in UP in 2014, which played a
critical role in BJP retaining the capability of forming a majority government
on its own. But the SP-BSP alliance is projected to be a big challenge even for
the BJP Juggernaut. For, should BSP hold on to Dalit votes base and the SP
retain a sizable chunk of Yadavas and OBCs, it could spell serious trouble for
BJP in the Hindi heartland.
Plus,
the alliance will also ensure that unlike 2014 Muslim voters won’t split to the
advantage of the BJP. In fact, in 2017 UP assembly polls SP and BSP both had
won 22 per cent vote share. If they are able to poll similar numbers again, it
would be a game changer. It could mean a big drop in seats for BJP in an
election where every seat change will impact the complexion of the future Union
Government.
But
these are Lok Sabha elections and BJP will also be putting its best foot
forward. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forceful campaigning could upset
opposition calculations yet again. Besides, notwithstanding the opposition’s
success in recent assembly polls and bye elections earlier, voters could make a
distinction in their state-level and national level choices. Nonetheless, the
SP-BSP tie up does provide a solid pillar for the opposition’s mahagathbandhan
plan across the country. And, as Mayawati has suggested, this alliance in most
populous state, building on anti-incumbency at both central and state levels,
should give Modi-Shah combine some sleepless nights. (IPA Service)
The post India To Witness Coalition Era After Lok Sabha Poll appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
