It is now two months since more than two dozen opposition parties in India have decided to join forces and contest the upcoming 2024 national elections as a united front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This coalition of 28 opposition parties, known as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), aims to deny the BJP its third term, which is otherwise favourite to win. And this, the alliance hopes to accomplish by fielding a single opposition candidate against the BJP’s nominee in each electoral district, thus avoiding vote-splitting.
The alliance has been critiquing the Modi government’s economic performance, mounting unemployment, and a range of domestic issues. But given the PM’s overarching political persona and his vast support among people, the opposition faces an uphill battle in unseating him. With his immense popularity and BJP’s significant control over states, the PM remains a formidable force. However, the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi believes that the INDIA alliance, representing 60% of the population, can mount a serious challenge if they unite effectively.
As India braces for the 2024 elections, the political landscape is becoming increasingly polarized. The road ahead promises intense political drama, where the outcome will shape the trajectory of India’s politics and governance. Whether the united opposition can successfully challenge the incumbent BJP and the PM Modi remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle for India’s future has begun in earnest.
Major mainstream parties in Jammu and Kashmir have lost no time to rally around it. Both Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief ministers of the J&K state attended the opposition meet in Bengaluru on July 18.and batted for the wider opposition unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections.
Though, J&K has little political weight in terms of bolstering the seat strength of opposition in the parliament, the situation in Kashmir has perennially been a polarizing political issue in the country, more so during the parliamentary elections. And it has always been employed to a great political effect by the BJP. In 2024 polls too, the altered political situation in Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 is set to be one of the major talking points of the saffron party. And to the BJP’s advantage, its hardline policy on Kashmir resonates with a significant section of people in the country. But it is too early to say what might happen in the weeks and months to come. It would interesting to see how the political battle royale shapes up until the general elections take place.
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