The opposition front has united to contest against the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections to be held in the year 2024. Leaders of 26 parties had to hold several rounds of meetings to unite the opposition. In the meeting held in Bengaluru on 17th and 18th July, the name of the alliance of the opposition parties was discussed to outline the future strategy and issues.
However, no decision has been taken yet on many important issues ranging from seat sharing to PM face. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge definitely said that Congress is not interested in the post of PM. He said that our intention is not to gain power for the Congress but to protect India’s constitution, democracy, secularism and social justice.
Political experts say that taking this decision of the Congress is part of a very well thought out strategy. But the question arises that the Congress party, which has shown great heart by withdrawing itself from the claim of the post of PM, will now be ready to back down even on the issue of compromise of seats?
These challenges are going to come in front of 26 parties involved in INDIA
Two meetings of opposition unity have already taken place. The 26 parties involved in INDIA will now meet in Mumbai for the next meeting. Where the face of the opposition alliance can be decided.
Apart from the PM’s face, the party’s convenor, many things are yet to be agreed upon in the alliance. In the coming times, many challenges will come in front of the alliance. Like seat sharing, common candidate and ambitions of regional parties.
Apart from all this, the list of contenders for the post of PM in the alliance is also long. On the one hand in the race for the post of PM, the names of many big leaders like Nitish Kumar, Sharad Pawar, Mamta Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal are coming to the fore.
On the other hand, even though the Congress has withdrawn itself from the race to claim the post of PM, it has not closed all the doors. The party knows that after the elections, if the Congress emerges as the largest party in the opposition alliance, then it will claim the post of PM.
Will Congress compromise on seats after the post of PM?
Professor of Political Science Ankul Mishra told ABP that the Congress, being the largest and oldest party among the 26 parties involved in the alliance, has taken a step forward and removed itself from the claim for the post of PM.
Now when it comes to seat sharing, Congress can ask other parties to show big heart like themselves to field their candidate.
Congress may have to do more brainstorming regarding seat sharing in Punjab, Delhi, UP and West Bengal.
Congress will have to compromise in the state where the regional party dominates
From Rahul Gandhi to Mallikarjun Kharge, several Congress leaders have publicly stated that their party’s goal is not to become the PM but to oust the BJP from power.
How much the Congress follows its statement, it was proved with the removal of itself from the claim of the post of PM.
The party wants to defeat the BJP in this Lok Sabha election at any cost, as the Congress is facing defeat in the last two Lok Sabha elections. In such a situation, if it loses the election this time too, then it may be difficult for the party to save its political existence.
At present, there is going to be a contest between NDA and INDIA on most of the seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha. According to the formula of opposition unity, INDIA is thinking of fielding a candidate against NDA on 450 seats. If this happens then there will be a face to face election between NDA and INDIA.
Congress will have to contest on less seats
year 2023 In the assembly elections held in Karnataka, the Congress formed the government with a majority by winning 135 seats. At that time, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on a public platform that, ‘If the Congress fights only where it has a strong hold, then we will support it. But he will also have to support other parties.
Now, if we look at the results of the Lok Sabha elections held in the year 2019, Congress became the second largest party by winning 52 seats. After Congress, DMK was the second largest party with 24 seats and TMC was fourth with 23 seats. Whereas Shiv Sena had won 19 seats and JDU had 16 MPs.
At present, the alliance formed of 26 opposition parties includes DMK, TMC, JDU and Shiv Sena. Which means that on about 82 seats, these parties would like to field their candidates and either of them would have to give up their seats.
Presently West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are ruled by small parties while AAP is in power in Delhi-Punjab. In these states too, it will be difficult for the Congress regarding the distribution of seats. In such a situation, one of the parties may have to compromise.
The Samajwadi Party’s plan in UP is to allow its candidate to contest more seats in the elections. Not only this, small parties are also giving advice to big parties. In UP itself, RLD has given a message not to break the trust to maintain the alliance. Regional parties say that at first they are included in the alliance but after the result they are not taken care of.
20 seats in Punjab-Delhi, can talk be done on 10-10?
There are 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, here in 2019 the Congress had won 8 seats. You had won one seat. Congress can contest on 7 seats and AAP on 6 seats in Punjab. Talking about Delhi, there are a total of 7 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi.
In 2019, all the seven seats went to BJP’s account. On 4 AAP and on 3 Congress was second. Seats can be distributed here under this formula.
Will not get any seat in UP-Bengal
Congress claims more seats in UP, but SP is not ready to give. According to the alliance formula, Congress can get 7-12 seats in Uttar Pradesh. These include seats like Rae Bareli, Amethi, Kushinagar, Fatehpur Sikri, Kanpur, Bijnor and Sitapur.
Congress is claiming 21 seats on the basis of 2009 results. Even in West Bengal, the Congress could hardly get more than 6 seats. Here under the formula, Trinamool can contest on 32, Congress on 6 and CPM on 4 seats.
Congress’s history of sacrifice
Jharkhand Pradesh Congress President Rajesh Thakur while talking to ABP on the claim seat agreement for the post of PM says, ‘This is not happening for the first time when Congress is compromising for the country. If we had wanted, Sonia Gandhi would have become the Prime Minister in 2004 itself. Congress has a history of making sacrifices. Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life in the service of the country, Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed his life for international peace. Congress has been making such sacrifices.
How many seats did the Congress contest in the last five elections and how many seats did it win?
- In the year 1999, Congress fielded its candidates on 453 seats and won 114 seats.
- In the year 2004, Congress fielded candidates on 417 seats and won 145.
- In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Congress fielded its candidates on 440 seats and the party won 206 seats.
- happened in the year 2014 Lok Sabha Elections Congress contested on 414 seats and was reduced to 44 seats only.
- In the year 2019, Congress contested on 421 seats and could win only 52 seats.
