The recent developments within the opposition alliance have raised questions about unity and coordination. While the decision of the Gandhis to stay away from the 13-member coordination committee in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections may suggest that the Congress is avoiding a big brother role, there are underlying issues that need attention. Let’s delve into the details:
The Logo Controversy
The logo was initially announced in the programme list shared by both the Congress and Shiv Sena. However, just hours before its scheduled release at 10.30 am, it was abruptly put on hold. This decision left two senior leaders of the TMC and the Left surprised, as they had not been informed about its release status. One leader commented, “Nothing was finalized, and the TMC had reservations about the logo.” Similar reservations were expressed by the Samajwadi Party and JD(U), who believed that the focus should be on leaders and parties representing the idea of India.
Committees’ Composition
The composition of various committees has been a cause of concern. Notably, the TMC has yet to provide names for the sub-committees responsible for planning, media, and research. A prominent TMC leader expressed disappointment, saying, “We expected Mamata Banerjee or Chidambaram to be part of the manifesto committees. However, many of those appointed seem lightweight and undermine the gravitas.” Concerns were also raised about the media committee, which appeared to be overly dominated by Congress members. A senior leader stated, “Recently, a social media post from the Congress prominently featured Rahul Gandhi, raising eyebrows. And now, the same team is handling social media.” To address this, DMK MP Dayanidi Maran has been added to the team. Another concern pertains to media handling, with sources revealing dissatisfaction over the exclusion of Pawan Khera, the head of the media department. His name was subsequently included as a course correction, along with Kanimozhi’s. This adjustment aims to bolster the committee’s credibility and appease Khera. DMK leader Tiruchi N Siva’s inclusion in the campaign committee adds a senior presence.
Seat Sharing Dilemma
Seat sharing has proven to be a contentious issue, particularly irking the Trinamool Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, SP, RJD, and JD(U). These parties insisted on a timeline for finalizing seat sharing, but the Congress remained non-committal. Frustrated by this, the TMC chose to skip a joint press conference. Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee departed for Kolkata, while Derek O’Brien claimed illness and stayed at the hotel in Mumbai. Some allies raised objections regarding the excessive number of passes issued in the Congress’s name and how certain leaders and members received special proximity passes granting them access to the meeting, while others were asked to reduce their numbers. Another point of contention was the absence of a specific date for announcing the seat sharing in the resolution. All eyes are now on the upcoming opposition meeting in Delhi, but the lack of trust in the Congress and accusations of high-handed behavior by some of its leaders threaten to disrupt the unity of the front.
Conclusion
The recent developments within the opposition alliance reveal a complex web of issues that go beyond the surface appearance of unity. While the decision of the Gandhis to distance themselves from the coordination committee may signal a desire to avoid a dominant role, underlying problems such as the logo controversy, committee composition, and seat sharing dilemmas need resolution for the alliance to present a formidable front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.