The no-trust motion boomeranged on both the Congress-led partnership as well as the idea of a non-Congress/non-BJP grand alliance.
The Congress should now be wondering whether it had been wise to project the no-trust motion against the Narendra Modi Government as an expression of opposition unity. For all its grandstanding, the so-called united opposition managed just 126 votes as against 325 of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA. The Congress failed to wean away the fence-sitters and had to be content with its core supporters within the UPA, the Left parties, the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress. The Shiv Sena refused to play the Congress’s game and distanced itself from voting. This was certainly a snub to its ally, the BJP, too, but at least the Sena didn’t vote against the Government. Biju Janata Dal MPs preferred to walk out of the House and not participate in the proceedings, and that brought the tally down in the Lok Sabha, helping the BJP to shore up numbers.
Out of the blue, he reiterated his Hindu credentials — his being a devotee of Lord Shiva etc — and said he had no problems being called a “Pappu”.
The Shiv Sena and the BJD may have indulged in half-gestures, but the AIADMK, which is not part of the NDA, demonstrated full-throated opposition to the no-confidence motion and voted in favor of the Modi regime. This could be a precursor to a formal alignment in Tamil Nadu between the BJP and the AIADMK ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Equally interesting was the position the TRS took — of refraining from voting. This is significant for some reasons. The first is that TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had been an early proponent of a non-Congress/non-BJP third front, but later seemed to lose interest in pursuing the possibility. The second is that TRS members later said their party shared cordial ties with the Modi Government and, therefore, they saw no reason to vote against the regime. The third is that, given the bitterness in the relationship it shares with the TDP (which had moved the no-confidence motion), over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the TRS could not have supported the TDP’s initiative. The fourth interesting part is that Prime Minister Modi in his speech that concluded the discussion praised Telangana, and the TRS in a way. Could this lead to some sort of a pre-poll understanding between the TRS and the BJP in the run-up to 2019?
And the fifth was that the Prime Minister remarked he had cautioned TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu against falling in the trap of YSR Congress and breaking ties with the NDA. The message was clear enough: The TDP could if it wants to, return to the NDA which was committed to the development of Andhra Pradesh, once it realized its mistake and abandoned competitive regionalism with YSR Congress.
Thus, the no-trust motion boomeranged on both the Congress-led partnership as well as the idea of a non-Congress/non-BJP grand alliance. It needs to be kept in mind that even those who ganged up against the Modi regime in the no-trust vote, are not necessarily going to be partners in the electoral battle. For instance, the Left and the Trinamool Congress, both of whom backed the motion, will contest as rivals to each other in West Bengal. The Samajwadi Party and the Congress, who joined hands to back the TDP’s no-confidence move, are unlikely to partner with each other in Uttar Pradesh. And the Left and the Congress, both of whom supported the motion against the Government, will fight the Lok Sabha election as opponents in Kerala.
The end loser was, of course, the TDP. The issues of Andhra Pradesh were hardly discussed in the nearly 12-hour-long discussion on the no-confidence motion.
Even optics has not worked for the Congress. The party was left embarrassed when Rahul Gandhi walked up to the Prime Minister after his speech and forcibly hugged him while the latter remained seated. The Congress president was rebuked by the Lok Sabha Speaker over the unbecoming conduct. Rahul Gandhi’s speech too was a disaster. It was personal and well short of substance. Flouting parliamentary convention, he flung wild allegations against the Prime Minister — calling him a stakeholder in supposedly corrupt deals — and the Defence Minister. He referred to a conversation he had with the French President and claimed that the Rafale fight plane deal was mired in corruption. It was not hours after he said this that he was slapped with a privilege motion which the BJP has moved before the Speaker, on the ground that he had sought to mislead the House by leveling unsubstantiated accusations.
The Congress president’s speech, which was supposed to lead to tectonic shifts, was as bizarre as his hug. Out of the blue, he reiterated his Hindu credentials — his being a devotee of Lord Shiva etc — and said he had no problems being called a “Pappu”. Turning into an evangelist, he claimed that he was there to remove hatred from the hearts of BJP leaders. Buoyed by the loud thumps from his backers in the Congress camp, he perhaps failed to realize that he was making a complete fool of himself in the process. worse, from his point of view, he was giving an opportunity for the Prime Minister to latch on to those follies — which Modi did with devastating effect when his turn to respond to the non-trust move came.
The end loser was, of course, the TDP. The issues of Andhra Pradesh were hardly discussed in the nearly 12-hour-long discussion on the no-confidence motion. Chandra Babu Naidu should introspect on what he has gained from the avoidable tamasha.
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
BJP should have avoided any deal involving Reliance group which everyone agrees that it is most “unreliable company” & a chor company.
Naidu should know that “special status” concept has been “deleted” & to continuously harp on it is day dream. Naidu should remember that he is now CM of a small state with 24 MPs and cannot expect to be a king maker. Naidu should warry about his “inner garments”. He may be CM in Year 1995, but Modi is now PM & it was foolishness to continuously criticize Modi during the no confidence motion & to expect positive response from Modi (who is NO God to excuse the ONE hour relentless attacks)
Andhra Pradesh should attrack industries on its own merits than on any conceissions for the industry who comes seeing to get benefits form concessions will go immeidately after the honeymoon period.
To have a capital city is accepted, to have it your own capital city without invovling stake holders & then claim that you designed, lived & died there = is nonsense.
Good article. Agree it is tamasha from the point of view of Khangress Muslim party and Naidu/TDP made a fool of themselves, but it helped BJP to launch its 2019 campaign by turning this “adversity” into opportunity. Naidu & Khangress fell in the ditch they dug for Modi. BJP called their bluff and won with more than expected votes. NDA had 315 but 325, 10 more. Khangress expected 147 but got only 125. Its a major defeat for TDP & Khangress. Naidu lost face. TDP’s Galla who opined in the past special package better than special state, now made a U-turn. This decision instead of helping in next election, it will boomerang on Naidu. It does NOT help YSR in AP directly. Since Naidu lost face, indirectly it may be a plus for Jagan. I am NOT in favor of Jagan or Naidu. Practically speaking, I prefer BJP alliance for AP to take on path of development.
Yet another manifestation of entitlement mindset of Rahul, that people would vote him as PM in LS2019!
Hon PM countered every single “off-the-cuff-allegation” of Rahul Gandhi, exposed Rahul’s hunger to occupy the right-corner seat in the LS.
Even before the din in LS subsided, Mamatadi proclaimed the right for the throne from Kolkata! We have to now await Maya from UP to reiterate her dalit-credentials to be the logical successor in 2019! & these disparate Opposition dynasts are somehow hoping to hoodwink the Indian Electorate!
NaMo+Amit Shah duo have redefined politics and have taken electioneering to a different level that shall ensure victory in 2019!
Who says Opposition are NOT entitled to chasing MIRAGE!
A well analyzed article by Rajesh Singhji … but I do not agree the NCM is a TAMASHA.
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On the contrary, it was an unexpected boon for the BJP & allies – exposing the hollowness of the OPPOSITION creating a good commencement of CAMPAIGNING for LS-2019 . 50% Modi’s efforts has been saved.
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BJP alone will rebound back with 350 seats & added with allies the tally for NDA will reach 400+ in LS-2019
The problem with these type of so called yellow journalists, They think they know every thing but they don’t know nothing in reality . What he knows about AP problems and how can he call it is loss to TDP. It is not about TDP it is about AP one of the state in indian union ( just reminding the so called journalist he might not know where is AP )