Maharashtra’s opposition front, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena-UBT, is closely following the developments. Some senior leaders are considering whether these new alliances are being formed to counter the BJP, or to harm the Congress. Several parties in other southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-U and Bihar’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party and other regional forces are also eyeing it. MVA leaders have made it clear that no opposition unity is possible by ousting the Congress.
No opposition unity possible by ousting Congress
MVA leaders, especially the NCP and the Sena-UBT, have made it clear that no opposition unity is possible by ousting the Congress. Acknowledging that there is no anti-BJP wave, a Shiv Sena-UBT leader claimed that the current mood of the nation is rising with attempts to eliminate opposition or regional parties, misuse of central agencies and attacks on all democratic institutions. Being anti-BJP since. An NCP functionary agreed, saying the BJP would be made accountable for the state of the economy, failure to control inflation and unemployment, wastage of resources on showy projects or mega-events, etc. A senior Congress leader from the state, preferring anonymity, feels that the scenario in 2024 will be challenging for the BJP on even more levels.
About 14 percent of new voters will be added in the upcoming election, besides 20 percent of minority voters will also be included. New voters will come with high hopes for their future and the current scenario hardly inspires confidence in them, he said, adding that perhaps for the first time since 1989, even minorities will return to the Congress fold. A Shiv Sena-UBT functionary said the ground trend is slowly -Slowly emerging, who or what alliance can help defeat BJP and they will vote accordingly, In Maharashtra, this sentiment may win 35-38 seats to MVA.
NCP’s move upset the opposition
The recent move by the NCP to support the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP alliance in Nagaland has left the opposition somewhat perturbed and also raised questions on NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s future strategy.Shiv Sena-UBT and Congress leaders The NCP is expected to spring some uncomfortable surprises in case of an adverse verdict in the ongoing Supreme Court challenge against the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. At the national level, the BJP-led NDA will remain strong in its strongholds such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and partially in Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Northeast.
The Congress-led UPA is likely to exceed expectations. More parties are likely to join his caravan in the coming months, especially from the south and west. An NCP functionary said, this time most of the regional parties are regrouping, as they fear that if the BJP returns to the government, the central investigative agencies will act openly. So they are strategizing on the basis of now or never.
According to an MVA leader, the Congress may return to its 1996 level with around 140 plus seats, restricting the BJP to below 200 seats, and the rest being shared by other opposition/regional parties. However, there are also apprehensions that the BJP may resort to some big political or economic sensationalism in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, which may help attract Hindutva skeptics. Congress and Shiv Sena UBT believe that if the opposition fails to unite, it will directly benefit the BJP.
Get the more Politics news updates
