MARCH

STRUGGLING TO
STAY AFLOAT
Political parties have launched and intensified their campaign with the announcement of election schedule by Election Commission.
Like in the past, this is the time for political parties to stitch alliances to improve its poll prospects and be relevant. In the changing
scenario, with the decade-old UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh facing a strong anti-incumbency, its allies are doing a
rethink. So is the case with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Riding on a so-called ‘Modi wave’ in its favour NDA
is finding new allies. The very parties for whom BJP was an untouchable, few months ago, and were loath to Narendra Modi leading its
campaign are queuing up to be on his right side, now. The regional parties are trying to cobble up a credible non-BJP, non-Congress front
in which 11 parties came together, but it could not even make a start before withering.
For most combines the challenge it to stay afloat and put up a united face before the voters. But with internal pulls and pressures and
egos of individual leaders it is also turning out to be a very difficult task for most parties and alliances.
NDA – ON THE SURGE
With most political surveys predicting
the NDA getting about 225 seats,
the BJP is elated and undoubtedly getting
support from new quarters. About eight
months back NDA had virtually been reduced
to two major allies- the Shiv Sena,
BJP’s partner in Maharashtra and Akali
Dal in Punjab. Barring a few small parties
most others had left the alliance or
were non-committal. Modi’s elevation as
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate led to
more confusion and most alliance partners
were not willing to speak on record.
The Jana Dal (United) had left the alliance,
Biju Janata Dal kept itself at a safe
distance and the Telugu Desam Party
(TDP) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida
Kazhagam (DMDK) led by actor-turned
politician Vijaykant stayed away.
However, in the changing dynamics the
alliance is also undergoing a change.
Political outfits like the TDP and
DMDK are cozying up to NDA while
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
leaders have been making odd noises
expressing their displeasure of Congress
party and remaining soft on Modi and
BJP. Even as sena is keen to go ahead
with its ties with BJP, Maharashtra
Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj
Thackeray is also softening. But the only
issue with BJP will be to have alliance
with MNS and or NCP and at the saem
time keeping its alliance with Shiv Sena
intact— something that looks a distant
possibility at this point of time.
Former BJP president and Member of
Parliament from Nagpur Nitin Gadkari
ruling out Sharad Pawar-led NCP in
NDA said NCP has been part of the
Congress-led UPA and therefore the
question of its joining NDA does not
arise. He however, added, NDA would
be able to get new allies to form the next
government.
In a shot in its arm retired IPS officer
and activist Kiran Bedi and former
Army Chief Gen VK Singh joined the
BJP. BJP is likely to field both of them,
now. Several other parties like the Apna
Dal (Uttar Pradesh), a few smaller
parties in Tamil Nadu are in talks with
the BJP and NDA leaders.
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