New Delhi: Opposition alliance INDIA’s constituent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said Tuesday that all members will have to sacrifice three things to make the coalition successful – mahatvakanksha (ambition), matbhed (difference of opinion) and manbhed (difference of thought).
AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha told news agency PTI that the ruling BJP was “baffled by the chemistry and arithmetic of the INDIA alliance”, which has forced them to come up with “tactics” such as replacing India with “Bharat” in official communications.
He said when an alliance was formed against former Congress Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1977, the Opposition won despite not having a PM face. “I see a repeat of that in 2024,” Chadha said.
Chadha confirmed that AAP – the ruling state party in Delhi and Punjab – was not in the race for the PM’s post, adding the INDIA bloc had many administrators but the BJP banked on only one leader.
Chadha’s remarks came on the eve of INDIA’s first coordination committee meeting in Delhi on Wednesday, which he said would discuss issues to be taken to the people and the way forward.
The 28-party INDIA bloc has so far held three meetings, and the 14-member committee – the top decision-making body of the alliance – was formed in their last conclave in Mumbai.
The first committee meeting will focus on finalising campaigns and rallies to be held in the coming days, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha said on Monday.
Jha said the results of the recent by-polls in seven assembly seats – in which the Opposition won four and the BJP three – show that a narrative was getting built in favour of the INDIA bloc.
He added: “The meeting on the 13th is important, meetings of the different sub-groups have been held, like that of the social media committee, campaign committee, and research committee. The deliberations held in these meetings will get a stamp of approval. A final shape will be given to the agenda on Wednesday… What will be the programmes, where will campaigns be held etc.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Chadha criticised DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for his disparaging remarks on Sanatan Dharma. “I am from Sanatan Dharma. I condemn and oppose such statements… One should stay away from making such remarks on any religion. We should respect all religions.”
He said statements made by a “small” leader from any party could not be considered the official stand of the INDIA bloc.
The BJP has repeatedly attacked the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for ally Stalin’s comments.
BJP President J.P. Nadda led a fresh charge Tuesday against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi and asked on micro-blogging site X: “The Congress and the INDIA alliance should make their view clear and say if the Constitution gives the right to make objectionable comments against any religion? Don’t the alliance members know the constitutional provisions?”
I.N.D.I Alliance की मुम्बई बैठक के दो दिन बाद उदयनिधि स्टालिन का बयान आना, फिर प्रियांक खड़गे का सनातन पर आघात और आज DMK के मंत्री द्वारा ये स्वीकार करना कि I.N.D.I Alliance का गठन ही सनातन धर्म के विरोध में किया गया था, यह सोनिया गांधी, राहुल और कांग्रेस की एक सोची समझी रणनीति…
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 12, 2023
Former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Gandhis’ silence was indicative of their approval, asserting that opposing Sanatan Dharma was part of INDIA’s common minimum programme.
A recent viral video by Tamil Nadu’s DMK minister K. Ponmudy has added teeth to the BJP’s attack. At the same conference where the chief minister’s son Udhayanidhi equated Sanatan Dharma practices to dengue and malaria, Ponmudy purportedly said the INDIA bloc was formed with the aim of fighting Sanatan Dharma.
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