Mamata’s ‘folly’ props BJP in Prez poll
Bhubaneswar, June 17 (Ajoy Kumar Misra): The ‘failure’ of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee to attempt an alliance to defeat the NDA in the presidential elections has virtually propped up the chances of the NDA led by BJP to sail through in the elections in July. Mamata, perhaps emboldened by her success in the last West Bengal Assembly elections, had been encouraged to garner support of ‘likeminded’ parties to defeat the BJP in the presidential poll. But it was nipped in the bud. She did not invite several opposition parties to the brainstorming session and some who she invited skipped the meeting. This has given a clear indication that at least for the time being there is no possibility of unity among various opposition parties to stop the juggernaut of the BJP.
Mamata called the Biju Janata Dal from Odisha, which is believed to be close to the BJP. But the party did not send any representative to the meeting making it amply clear that they are not likely to tow Didi’s line at this moment. The TRS from Telengana also absented as also the Aam Aadmi Party and Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. It can well be deduced here that Mamata’s efforts has received the first jolt.
The next blow was from Sharad Pawar whom the Mamata group was trying to project as a probable candidate to put up a challenge for the BJP nominee. But Pawar cut the dream short saying a big no to the offer. There could be two reasons for Pawar for doing so. Firstly, as an astute politician he might have realized that BJP was sure to win with the numericals in its favour. Secondly, he has all along been a king maker and never wanted to don the crown.
The Opposition parties’ next choice Farooq Abdullah or former West Bengal Chief Minister Gopal Krishna Gandhi also appears to have not cut any ice with some parties. Farooq Abdullah’s rant against India and the NDA is well known and may be some parties though in the opposition, do not want to identify themselves with someone labelled ‘anti-establishment.’ Gandhi, also, is not a name so familiar with several opposition parties because he is not a political figure. This was perhaps a shocking development for Mamata, who had been trying to step into the shoes of Pawar.
The NDA on the other hand has played smart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to talk to leaders of all opposition parites, including Mamata Banerjee, to evolve a consensus candidate for the election like in the case of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Rajnath has already spoken to or speaking soon to Naveen Patnaik, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav and KSR and YSR in this regard. He will try to rope in the support of Shiromani Akali Dal on a consensus candidate. This has created an awkward situation for many, including the Odisha Chief Minister and BJD Chief Patnaik. In case the NDA picks up a candidate like Droupadi Murmu—A leader belonging to the Scheduled Tribe, the BJP will find itself in a very ‘uncomfortable’ position if it has decided on some other name. Even refusing to tow the line on Arif Mohammad Khan will also be a very difficult decision for the party.
Since the presidential poll electoral process has kick started, the opposition parties need to toil harder to put up a candidate who can possibly turn the apple cart of the BJP.
It is very unlikely.
