Guwahati, 11th June: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may have emerged as the single largest party in the recent Lok Sabha elections, but the Congress-led INDIA alliance is poised to present a formidable challenge. Gaurav Gogoi, Congress’s deputy leader in the previous Lok Sabha, expressed confidence that the alliance’s strength of over 230 MPs would act as a robust “wall of defenders” against the BJP’s parliamentary tactics.
“I do see that in the 236 MPs of the INDIA bloc, we will have a Parliament where they cannot bulldoze bills, intimidate us, suspend us. They had suspended 146 MPs (last year), will they suspend 236 this time?” Gogoi asked.
Gogoi refutes claims that NDA allies like TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar have capitulated to the BJP, labeling them as “extremely shrewd political minds” with unpredictable intentions. He predicted that the NDA government might not complete a full term, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership style as a hindrance to coalition governance.
“Till the time Modi is there as PM, I don’t think their approach to Parliament is going to change. They will still try to bulldoze, suspend, disqualify, poach. But yes, as in football, while there were three defenders (earlier), our wall (of defenders) is now bigger and much more robust,” Gogoi stated.
The Congress leader views the INDIA bloc’s strong performance in the elections as a “lesson in humility” for Modi, whom he criticizes for lacking the flexibility and inclusiveness necessary for effective coalition governance.
While the BJP has secured a majority within the NDA alliance, Gogoi emphasizes the significance of the INDIA bloc’s 236 seats, just 50 short of the NDA’s. “What was the difference between the NDA alliance and the INDIA bloc, a mere 50 seats. So, why are we talking about two parties, why are we ignoring the fate of the Shiv Sena and the NCP (NDA constituents) in Maharashtra… why are we not talking about the NPP in Meghalaya,” he said.
As the opposition prepares for a confrontational stance in Parliament, the stage is set for a potential showdown between the ruling party’s agenda and the INDIA bloc’s determination to resist unilateral decision-making.
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