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“It’s a long road, when you’re on your own, it’s a real war right outside your front door I tell you, out where they’ll kill you, you could use a friend”. These are the lines from the movie, Rambo-First Blood. It had shaped the Sylvester Stallone’s Career then. Now it’s principle, can shape the Indian Politics.
Its no doubt that the regional parties are getting stronger day by day. Especially on the free-fall of Age-old party congress, which seems to be struggling to carry its burden with Internal crisis, with no sight of any able leader to solve issues within the party.
This is the right time to forge a Federal Front, Unlike UPA, earlier opposition for NDA, this alliance must Manifest, small amount of Autonomy towards the states. India is a federal Structure with unitary tilt, all that need to be done is, finding a small ground of balance. Which will be very appealing for the South states, West Bengal, Odisha and parts of North east. BJP has swept North East. Only way to question its identity there would be offering the balanced federal structure.
BJP is trying very hard to shed its labelling, Party of Hindi Heart land. That was the one reason it used Narender Modi, who fetched the votes from the western belt as native, and swept the central Indian heartland with the Gujrat Model. He tried it in south, Karnataka was the only state he got, That too, not because of the Himself. Before 2014, BJP had the government of Yeddyurappa, which was formidable with the backing of dominant Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, (Similar to SP-Yadavs) in UP, proof for this is, BJP’s inability to find the majority in any of the Assembly general Elections held so far in Karnataka.
Similar model of politics, should be opted by the Opposition parties, but should be more significant and Stable. BJP will attack them on the grounds of ‘tukde-tukde’, To Counter this argument, this federal front must sit together and find a common ground, think and behave like a national party.
Accordingly, it would be a very formidable association of regional parties with YSRCP, DMK, TRS, BJD, LDF, the tripartite of Maharashtra, with the Boost of TMC, RJD and SP. If they can indulge BJP into fighting them in their strong home turfs. It will be very time consuming for BJP. This will be the Bed-Rock of the Front.
Meanwhile, if there is this alliance at national level, Congress party with weak High-Command, will abide by the small influential local leaders, Congress if it is left quiet, and out of BJPs agenda, that is when it can grow, it should be left independent, it will fight back in Rajasthan, MP, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh on its own. Anyway, there is no point in alliance fighting congress.
It’s quite obvious that congress has become a polarizing factor on the BJPs mass Agenda throughout the country. But congress has the regional big names like Siddaramaiah, Bhupesh Baghel, and Gehlots. BJP except Yogi, doesn’t have a strong local leader anywhere, even Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also weakened. BJP is trying to grow and groom local leaders under the ‘Modi’s wave’. Its their weak point, Strong local identities will certainly make a huge difference.
Now, the technical question of Face arises, this is where I feel it’s time for the AAP, (Arvind Kejriwal with 9% approval rating in IPAC). Federal front must have a pre declared competitor for Modi. That, at this point, suits Arvind Kejriwal, Obvious because he has fought the BJP at Delhi, in the Face off Condition, He has the Charisma, of a well educated and technically sound background, Over the years he has developed the ability to polarize the Hindu-Muslim Unity. He has no community or regional identity as that of the others in Alliance members.
He has a Model of Delhi with him, election can be favourably fought in Hindi heartlands, there are greater number of Hindi migrants in Delhi and Punjab, than Gujrat, So the Delhi Model of Schools and clinics can be sold. Modi will certainly struggle to Attack the Kejriwal on the terms of governance, He has not shown any big sign as that of congress in the appeasing the minorities, thus BJP cannot attack him directly on the term of Communal colours. Only way BJP can attack front will be in terms of stability, if it is built early and it declares PM face as early as possible, the argument of stability can also be over ridden.
It’s only matter of time, This Federal front would be a good idea, only thing is mutual ego and self-aspirations of regional leaders must be checked. India has a stable constitution and well-behaved democracy; nothing can be Invincible or un-defeated in India. All you need is a friendship with same interest and leaders with similar mindset.
Also read: Complete opposition unity is a fantasy. It just needs to stop being at war with itself
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