Does Rahul Gandhi have the ability to unite the Opposition, just like his mother once did?
Attempt on Tuesday to create a common platform against demonetisation is notable for the absence of the JD(U), BSP and Left parties, among others.
A group of Opposition parties, led by the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, came together at Delhi’s Constitution Club to step up their attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the suffering caused by his decision to invalidate high denomination notes and to demand that he explain the corruption charges that have surfaced against him.Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee were flanked by representatives of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, DMK, Janata Dal (S) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha at the joint press conference where they announced their plans for a common minimum agenda to take forward their campaign.The press meet was high on rhetoric with both Rahul Gandhi and Banerjee training their guns at Modi but the proceedings were marred by the absence of other Opposition parties like the Janata Dal (U), the Left parties, the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Nationalist Congress Party.Both Rahul Gandhi and Banerjee were at pains to play down the differences in their ranks, insisting that all Opposition parties, which had joined hands in the winter session of Parliament to pin down the Modi government, were on the same page on the issue of demonetisation and that they had only stayed away from the Tuesday meeting because of local compulsions.With several political parties declining the Congress party’s invitation for a joint appearance, the big question is whether the Tuesday meeting can lay the foundation of a united front of Opposition parties to challenge the Modi government.“It is true that there was convergence among the Opposition parties in the recent Parliament session on the issue of demonetisation but it is too early to say if this unity can lead to the formation of a broad anti-BJP front,” remarked CPI leader D Raja.
Post a Comment