Opposition Parties Will Join Hands After Lok Sabha Polls, Says Shashi Tharoor
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor believes that opposition parties, whether campaigning together or against each other, will join hands after the Lok Sabha polls. He envisions a coalition government led by an INDIA bloc, with a prime minister who is "first among equals" and listens to others.
Tharoor argues that coalition governments have historically performed better than single-party governments in terms of economic growth. He sees the upcoming election as a call for change, with the BJP losing its grip on the narrative.
He defends the Congress's decision to not attend the Ram temple ceremony in Ayodhya, calling it a "political platform for the greater glorification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
Tharoor acknowledges that coalition governments function differently than monolithic one-party governments. However, he believes that given Modi's personality cult and the BJP's ruling style, an INDIA bloc government would be a welcome change.
He cites the examples of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh as successful coalition leaders. Vajpayee, despite not having a majority, led a 26-party coalition that delivered effective results. Singh, on the other hand, pursued economic goals relentlessly and presided over India's best growth period.
Tharoor acknowledges the potential for contradictions within the INDIA bloc, citing the bitter exchanges between the Congress and the Left in Kerala. However, he points out that both the UPA and the NDA came together after the elections, and that coalitions are often formed on a state-by-state basis.
He uses the example of Kerala, where the Congress and the Communists have been rivals for decades, to illustrate how unlikely alliances can be formed. He also points to the successful coalition in Tamil Nadu, which includes the CPI(M), CPI, Congress, Muslim League, and DMK.
Tharoor is confident that all opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, will come together to prevent the BJP from coming to power if they have the numbers. He has received assurances from friends in non-Congress parties that they will work together after June 4th.
Tharoor believes that the BJP's hubristic narrative has ended with the first phase of the election. He predicts that the "abki baar 400 paar" slogan will not be heard again for some time.