6 months later, smooth ride for NDA, INDIA bloc in disarray | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Six months is a long time in politics, and it is evident during the current session of Parliament.
While the INDIA bloc was mounting pressure on the BJP-headed govt in June after the saffron party bagged 240 seats and fell short of securing majority on its own, during the winter session it is seen to be in disarray over multiple issues, from EVMs to Adani and V D Savarkar.
In contrast, the coordination among NDA partners has appeared rather smooth, particularly during the debate on Constitution with each ally, whether it is BJP or Shiv Sena (Shinde), acting in sync. Even on the one nation one election (ONOE) bills, BJP managed to get TDP to back the move, with Chandrababu Naidu arguing that it will not impact Andhra Pradesh, which has been having simultaneous LS and assembly elections since 2004. TDP and JD(U), both with Muslim constituents, have resisted taking the bait from “secular” parties to oppose the legislation.
The strong chemistry may have to do with the improved arithmetic in states after BJP’s emphatic victories in Haryana and Maharashtra.
The poll setbacks seem to have severely hit Congress, which was celebrating its 99 seats in Lok Sabha, the best show in a decade, undermining its credentials to head an anti-BJP front: its sheet anchor, at minimum. After its loss in the two elections and underwhelming show in J&K and Jharkhand, allies are seeking to reframe the power equations, with TMC boss Mamata Banerjee stepping up to grab the mantle and,getting the support of satraps such as Sharad Pawar and Lalu Prasad to head the bloc. Samajwadi Party too flexed its muscles in UP by-polls and has now decided to support Arvind Kejriwal, who is being challenged by Congress. Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday demanded Bharat Ratna for Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter Savarkar. The effort to reclaim his Hindutva credentials is diametrically opposite to Rahul Gandhi’s consistent campaign against Savarkar.
The next challenge will be the polls for the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation where Uddhav and Rahul may struggle to reconcile their differences over a range of issues – from Savarkar to Ram Congresss’s reaction to criticism of the restive allies: lashing out at Omar Abdullah or mocking Mamata’s ambition as a cruel joke, has not helped matters. Congress has found itself at odds with allies on issues such as the Adani controversy, with TMC and SP breaking ranks with it.