Ahead of Lok sabha elections, the leaders of I.N.D.I.A bloc came together at Ramleela ground on Sunday, to show their unity and readiness for the elections. But the scene seemed to be a bit ambiguous as the agenda was neither clear nor unanimous. Rather than showing confidence, it was quite surprising that they did not have a strong motion; rather, they all sounded upset and nervous from their speeches.
It was apparent that they were all intimidated by the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Although the I.N.D.I.A alliance leaders shared the same stage, yet their disparities could be gauged easily. The same pain was reflected in the speeches of most of the big leaders who gathered against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claiming that he was being harassed without any reason and was sent to jail on false charges.
Kejriwal’s wife emphasised that her husband had not involved in corruption, while Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren, also defended her husband and criticised Modi government.
On the Congress side, President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi focused on the sealing of their accounts. NCP leader Sharad Pawar expressed his distress, while RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav blamed NDA government, holding them accountable for his his father Lalu Yadav’s imprisonment. Conversely, during the Congress era, action was taken against Lalu Yadav.
SP leader Akhilesh Yadav also targeted Prime Minister Modi. This indicates that TMC, PDP, National Conference, and Left parties all rallied against Modi. From the leaders’ speeches, it appeared that the opposition, in a sense, fell into the BJP’s trap. Despite appearing united on stage, these same leaders will return to their respective states and oppose Congress, which also benefits BJP.
For the three seats of Delhi, many leaders including former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, National President Mallikarjun Kharge were present on the stage and were expressing full sympathy towards Kejriwal. Many leaders on the stage conveyed their sympathy towards Kejriwal, showing no lack of compassion.
Similarly Hemant Soren’s wife, despite her husband being jailed, seized the opportunity to gain sympathy, much like Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita, who followed her husband’s lead in focusing on sympathy and found success. Sonia Gandhi, whom Arvind Kejriwal had previously criticised and had said would land up behind the bars; in his speeches, was seen seated beside Sunita Kejriwal, engaged in discussion.
It is still not clear if the congress strategists were able to read in-between the lines or not but the Aam Aadmi Party has evidently achieved success in its objectives. Kejriwal made significant efforts to position himself as the face of the opposition, even from jail, through a letter.
While NDA alliance stands united under the leadership of a single leader, entering the electoral arena with a clear agenda, the I.N.D.I.A alliance appears fragmented in various aspects.
In Punjab Congress is contesting elections against APP, while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was sitting next to Rahul Gandhi and talking. Today, for the first time, the entire Gandhi family was on the stage in favour of the president of AAP, which had easily turned the tables by winning in Punjab. They were definitely united against Modi, but in Punjab they would again be seen playing the game of blames and accusations against each other.
Somehow, jailed Arvind Kejriwal spared no effort in advancing his agenda through the letter, which did not go unnoticed. Leaders from Congress and other parties voiced their perspectives, while Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita, emphasized the party’s concerns outlined in his letter. This implies that the Aam Aadmi Party intends to extend the schemes currently operating in Delhi nationwide. Essentially, Kejriwal has consistently sought to position himself as the face of the opposition. Congress had little choice but to heed.
Modi was definitely the target in Ramleela Maidan, the strategy of Aam Aadmi Party was clearly visible that it started preparing to make Kejriwal the leader of the opposition. Its strategists have understood that keep Congress together for now, after the elections the results will show that Congress has been marginalised. Then the constituent parties of the I.N.D.I.A alliance would distance themselves from the Congress and push Kejriwal forward.
Before going to jail, Kejriwal had also said that his target is 2029 and he is trying to become the alternative to Prime Minister Modi.