COVER STORY | Politics of the Opposition: Can INDIA Bloc Survive the Cracks Within?

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:06]Hello and welcome to a cover story conversation. I have with me Ashoto, founding editor of satyahhindi.com and also an author of the Hindu raashtra. Reason why I'm bringing this book is because I think it's again coming up in context. Ashtosh and Rashid Kiddwai author senior polit journalist and also called he's written the book 24 akbar road again opposition politics Rashid is coming back in again and both of them are keeping a close eye on what is happening the results and what it means later on so Rashid you know the results what does it mean for the opposition politics before reason why I'm saying this is you know yesterday as you know ak shadav had gone to meet mta banji and I believe the conversation from the there takeaways was that there is a lot of anger against The Congress Ma and Stalin are feeling out you know cheated by the Congress Rahul Gandhi his comments and his behavior post and they are saying should we re re you know start the idea of a third front without the Congress leader of opposition rea you know so there seems to be a churn first let's talk about the leadership and then I want to talk about the ideology but first uh let's your points on you know how does the opposition fare in terms of leadership >> so P there is no point uh you know talking about the past Because in history there is no ifs and buts. But had you know India alliance gone as India alliance in these you know five states what if things would have been slightly uh different or at least the India alliance would have survived. Now the chances of India alliance are very uh bleak. uh Ma and Akilelesh whatever they may say they cannot deprive Rahul Gandhi of being leader of opposition because Rahul Gandhi is leader opposition not because of them but because of the strength of the Congress party that is 98 99 members in the Lok Sabha so that they that they have actually there is lot of misgivings about uh you know the India alliance India alliance was never there in the states India alliance was always there for the purpose of 20 24 Lok Sabha alliances in India are forged from position of strength not from position of weakness and this time the opposition is weak so they do not know who to blame so they are busy blaming each other in short they are very happy to be unhappy and I don't see them you know coming together again because of the politics that is going on in uh in Tamil Nad and in Bengal and elsewhere so what we'll have is we'll have you know smaller groups uh third front fourth front all kind of you know fronts will be there it all depends million dollar question what will be the situation in 2029 closer to it can the opposition unite because there is no compatibility among political parties on terms of ideology leadership simple thing from the beginning when the uh India alliance was forged or formed you see what is a nature of relationship is it are they are they co-equals as mta kjwal and kilh think or there is a dominant partner so in India if you very quickly look at the history there's always a dominant partner in uh all alliances. If you look at UDF, LDF politics, you look, you look at United Front, you look at any front uh NDA, uh UPA, there is always a dominant. So that acceptability is not there and that to my mind Ashtosh can dwell upon it is a core is a root cause of problem.

[00:03:21]Ashto, your take on this? Is this the end of the India alliance as we know it?

[00:03:24]Has West Bengal and Tamil Nadu uh done that or do we see that Bonhomi continuing in the Lok Sabha? Uh see Priya I beg to differ with Rashid Dhai for the simple reason and I think this the defeat of uh Tamil Congress in in Bengal is going to be a turning point in Indian political history and why I'm saying so because uh these leaders will realize slowly though not immediately because by now Maberji and others must be very angry because of the defeat and unprecedented defeat in that sense but sooner or later they will realize that if they are not together they are going to be finished and Mtaberj's fort was the was the strongest If Ma can lose in her own burrow and can lose so magnificently then obviously no political party and no regional party is safe the and and the the next thing which is going to happen is that uh third Congress is going to be vertically divided uh and then split and like Amadi parties Rajya Sabha members two3 will go and merge with the with the BJP because that will ensure BJP is smooth sailing for 2029 and and Then there can also be a division within the within the legislature party of the third world congress because BJP is a party like that and BJP realizes that the ma has the potential and has the has the willpower to bounce back strongly because a woman who could not be defeated by the very strong left front that how BJP is going to face face her. So in my uh and the second thing is that uh Stalin might be angry but Stalin has forgotten that in when the United when they were part of the United Front suddenly they switched side and joined Atal Bihari Waji government and the entire opposition at that point of time minus Bhari Waji were so upset that how can DMK do something like this because the IK Gujaratal government fell because of the DMK's because United Front supported him left right and and about MTA Berji the same leader who has all kinds of scorn ridicules for the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi and even the parliamentary election she had not she has said that uh the Congress can't get even 40 seats and she is basically a sabotier in the sense that India Gband could ever be created she did not participate she always has ridiculed for the third for the for the India gadband so today she has no reason to be upset to be to be upset with Rahul Gandhi or anybody else and if she wants to form a third PR she's most welcome she could do it but I can tell you in another five years time there will not be congress then there will not be mamab energy she can do it at her own peril and even in in Tamil Nadu uh the the TV has emerged on the cost of DMK not at the cost of aidk that then almost a strong section of the of the people in Tamil Nadu they are they got fatigued over the DMK politics so they're looking for an alternative and that what creates a space for the BJP. BJP can always enter. See the two states which is going to be very significant for the BJP in the next in the next uh stage is Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Vijay's presence creates that space. LDF loss creates that space for the BJP. So if opposition do not realize even now that they have to come together, I can tell you by 2029 half of the leaders will be in jail and half of the party will be split and there will be no opposition.

[00:06:51]I'm going to take this thought forward but uh one quick uh clarification.

[00:06:54]Didn't the DMK the Congress left the DMK? No. What about J commission? It I thought the Congress ditched the DMK rather than the other way around.

[00:07:02]>> Congress left the >> DMK alliance.

[00:07:06]>> I'm only saying I'm only saying that DMK should go back in history and realize what the Karnandi did with United Front.

[00:07:11]The IK Gujaratal government fell because of Jan Commission report and the Jan Commission report indicted DMK. So when the entire opposition when the entire United Front stood by Karani and DMK they sacrificed their government but with the next opportunity DMK switch sides and joined Vajay.

[00:07:32]>> Okay.

[00:07:32]>> How can today Stalin come out and say that no no no no we we were ditched.

[00:07:37]>> Okay. uh but Rashid you know take from Ashto's last thought in you know the future of politics will it you know slowly BJP regional parties are getting uh you know in analyted and BJP is taking that space or some I mean congress is not in a position so it is usually BJP so are we heading towards a BJP versus Congress fight where regional identities will matter less and less >> so period to my mind uh the biggest obstacle in abolition unity is a Congress party not by choice but by the kind of baggage of history and legacy.

[00:08:08]My dear friend Ashotosh when he was referring to that uh sort of I would say unsavory or the ugly episode of the United fall of United Front government fall of Indumar Gujaral government he I mean of course he meant it but he didn't spell it why it happened because the congress asked for removal of uh DMK and the rest of opposition including uh you know everybody all these other parties they stood by DMK so that's an important point because it was the against the congress and then if the rest of the you know sort of people who are able to join the uh you know the next form of government and UPA when government so did DMK so what I'm saying is alliances here are very flexible very opportunistic and very transactional we must remember that now comes the congress story the congress has a you know as a illusion of grand and most importantly parties like whether it is sharataw's party whether it is basalar congress by jagi or by uh you know mtav benerji and many others They all have you know they are a big Congress factions and they nurse a grudge. They have a thing about you know big brotherly approach of the Congress whether Congress has it or not. Rahul Gandhi has it not but they have this kind of narrative. So therefore there is always a sense of you know that kind of acceptance of Congress is not there the way it should be as among you know the alliance partner. The Congress also suffers from huge illusion of grando.

[00:09:34]See I was just doing a sort of thing because a lot of my friends in the congress were saying now ma is out party is you know stands demolished and all now it will be revival of our good old days in the congress will emerge as a as a principal opposition to the BJP now I'm not so sure Priya and Ashtoh see I'll give you two example one is that out of that 9900 seats they got in Lok Sabha about 37 seats were they benefited because of allies in in Tamil AR in rest of the country in Maharashtra etc. So that's a important point. So if you remove 37 seats then perhaps they would have been back to that 20 you know 19 uh position. And second thing Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Odisa, Andra, seven states 254 Lok Sabha seats. The Congress vote share Congress vote share I want to repeat is in single digit all states. Now Hindustan or single digit you know you have a single digit you know via I'm not going seats so therefore alliance are inevitable it requires a humility it requires you know it takes two to tango and here there are many people to tango actually it's like a total orchestra so I think they have to get there this thing so the ego trip has to see forget about India alliance having an office they don't even have email address so how do you how do you move forward And that is where I think a lot needs to be done and I don't see it happening. So I think a practical approach would be to have smaller groups uh you know if BJD and YSR congress they want to come together and uh you know JMM let them beat ultimately they all are anti-BJP and they can come together the way Ashto will remember national front and left front came together to keep Rajiv Gandhi out when Viping government was formed.

[00:11:27]Ashto your uh you know reply to this one and should congress seed the leadership to other parties.

[00:11:35]>> See why Congress should be blamed all the time. I don't understand this. Uh why ma Benerji should not be be blamed when she was making those statement that the congress will not get 40 seats.

[00:11:46]Congress is not dependent on Mtab Benji neither Ma is dependent on Congress party. The the fundamental issue is what the fundamental issue is none of these regional leaders have any national understanding and national perspective.

[00:11:58]What is their ideology? If I ask you what is the ideology of Sharata? What is the ideology of Abumtaber? Nothing. What is ideology of Arvid Kiral? Nothing. So see the ideology less political parties wants to dictate and find fight BJP. And all of them has this way or that way had aligned with the BJP. Mab Benerji survived after after leaving Congress party with an alignment with the BJP and was was a cabinet minister over there and she had an alliance with the BJP.

[00:12:26]Now the issue is leader like MTA Benerjee can can go on and on and say anything >> but when she was aligned with the BJP did not she realize that she's aligning with the fascist force did she what about her her secular credential? Does she have a secular credential? Does Nitishh Kumar has a secular credential?

[00:12:46]Dodakra has a secular credential. D M MK Stalin the DMK has a secular credential.

[00:12:50]All of them aligned with the BJP in the past. So these these these are basically a chair seeking politicians and political parties and they cannot fight with a party which has a very strong ideological structure called BJP.

[00:13:05]And let me tell you again the Congress the BJP will be more than happy that the Congress survives and the and the regional party should go. Why I'm saying so? Because the ideological moings of the BJP, >> the ideological moings of the Hinduta and the RSS clearly defines that these regional parties and the federalism is dangerous for the India's constitution and and and integ in integrity of the country. This is not these are not not my words. These are the words of who has written in the integral humanism and he says mael mamily where is bhhat mata and then he says this country the federalism is dangerous for the India's unity and integrity and that is enshined in our constitution gulwalker says that India needs a unitary form of the government that means one leader one parliament and one government so in there and you Remember three years back when JP Nada said regal parties.

[00:14:09]So they think that regionalization of Indian politics is dangerous for India in unity integrity because that weakens the center. So they want a strong center because in their in their opinion they believed that India got first overwhelmed by the Muslims and then by the Christians because the center was not strong because India was divided into the different regions, language and cultures and and everything. So it is a it is a fundamental of their uh their their politics and ideology that they don't want to see majarak DMK and all all these forces. So, so one by one all will be finished. Now the issue is issue is whether the opposition realizes this, whether the regional party realizes this. And if regional party does not realize this, then obviously everyone earlier what was the myth? Congress can't fight BJP. Wherever Congress is against the BJP, Congress loses. Now wherever there is a there is a regional party, they can't fight the BJP because all of them are losing one by one, one by one. So okay and and and the and the next target will be will be Amadi party in Punjab because Punjab is the last frontier left which has not been conquered by Hindutwa they conquered Assam successfully with 35% Muslim they successfully neutralized Muslims for them it doesn't matter and then they were the next target were 28% Muslim in Bengal now they have successfully neutralized that now the Punjab is only left which is a history of separatism history of terrorism They want to conquer there because as long as there is a there is a history of separatism the center gets weakened.

[00:15:53]So Hindukto has to win come what Punjab and you see next election it will not be easy for Amadi party. They don't want Amadi party to survive. They are more than happy with the Congress because they they know that tomorrow if the PJP is not there at least there's a one national force which can keep the India together. So I'm not talking about from the political point of view. I'm talking from the ideological point of view. And this ideology and and that is why BJP had had had walked much more extra miles to win Punjab win Bengal. Whatever happened in Bengal is exceptional. It is not it is not ordinary extraordinary.

[00:16:29]They have used every level of the state and level of the society to win that election. And I I I was telling people and I was told by BJP that come what me they will not let Mab Energy win. And that's what exactly has happened. So ma benji ma ben energies of the world will not survive. I'm telling you this tomorrow abhishek banji will be in jail.

[00:16:49]Ma will be compromised like mahabati.

[00:16:53]So you know apart from the means it's the end rashid that I really like to focus on. Is is the end of regional identities uh is there going to be a national identity? Will this national identity be a religious identity also?

[00:17:05]Because that is the Hindu raashtra that the BJP always talks about.

[00:17:09]>> How do you see it playing out? Yeah. So yeah, I think those are the you know issues and we need time to cause them to crystize. At present I think there's a very simple problem. Uh we can say that you know there's a absence of ideology in regional forces. One can turn around and say the same thing about the Congress party also there is a complete absence of ideology in the Congress party from the days of Javala Nu.

[00:17:31]Aruvian secularism has not been accepted by not only by pushand das tendon and sadar Patel and many others but up to narima there's a total you know history and now also even jarati now when you form a government whe you have no problems in accepting all those from ships to DMK to all those absence of ideology regional parties what kind of politics is this either you accept that you know that you know it's okay ideology has no place or you go for you know that what do you call it that Taj Mahal that you know you scrutinize LA you know TBK is trying to scrutinize that you know secular and social justice and without that you cannot be ally of you know Vijay's party so that scrutiny is welcoming but what I'm saying is Congress if you look back has not done that scrutiny so they are quite willing yeah actually the key problem as my friend Sharma has mentioned is is this that there is a when it comes to voters whether it becomes Hindu rash and all as I said it's a weighty thing that when we look at the ideologically inclined let's say right of center there is BJP and BJP is occupying that full space the ship sena was there as an as a regional sort of option but they've been co-opted largely so there is if a if somebody if tomorrow Priya wants to vote for a you know right of center party she has no option but to go for BJP and of course that broader ADA if you look at the other side if Priya wants to sorry Priya I'm dragging you but I'm saying if you want to vote for a centrist party or a right left or center then you have many options you have left parties you have congress you have amadi party you have BSP you have SP you have there is a every state there is a cafeteria you can pick and choose and that and that always leads to uh split of votes and this is a inherent problem and this is what political parties as I said leadership issue they're not able to resolve and the issue of ideology so this is become by just by I mean just to conclude priya that you know I still remember when this daship that MV and this thing was there even in English they use the word secular and in Maratti edition that word was not there now this is monkey trick who are you trying to fool >> so uh Ashto you know Rashid's counter of course is the Congress has no ideology or ideologies changes you know we saw 2014 Rahul experimenting with being a Hindu now he next election in 19 and in 24 he was again back to playing cast do you I think that now the opposition what what how do you counter the Hindu raashtra will cast counter it >> see Priya no disrespect to anybody no disrespected to Rashid and Priya you >> no this is the >> but I think we we we all have bought and brought up and did journalism when the it was fashionable to criticize Congress party I think the whole opposition party the regional parties have not gotten over that we are living into a new situation it's a new situation and I I'm again telling you BJP is not like Congress party congress has uh uh has has has has Congress has got the democratic bones. BJP does not have so if this and and BJP is always in a in a war mode it's always and that's that's a fundamental nature of an ideology. It creates myth it creates enemies and then it polarizes the whole society and it's always in a war mode. So the kind of discussion debate which you see on television channels and otherwise when you confront your friends with the with the right the kind of language they use which is that's not an ordinary language that is that is not that language of accommodation and adjustment Congress all all uh all good bad and ugly everything had been a democratic force and is still a democratic force.

[00:21:16]So there there there is a space you can argue and have a conversation with them but not with this force. What I'm trying to say is that look how one by one the BJP has demolished the political parties take any from from Kal to every they even took the support of PDP to form the government and look where the PDP is so they and Shuenda NCP sharp everybody what I'm saying is in the preference of scheme of ideological things the first target was to weaken Congress they succeeded Ed in that but their target is only to weaken Congress not the finished Congress.

[00:21:57]Their target is second stage they will finish all the regional parties because they do not believe into the diver unity and diversity. They have no faith. They think there is one meta identity that is called Hindu. Everybody should be Hindu.

[00:22:12]They have a problem when the people say I'm a Bengali. I'm a Tamilian. I'm a Telu. They on on the surface they respect all this. They want a they want a Hindu meta identity from Kashmir to Kanyakumari everybody should be Hindu that is their civilizational project so in within that context I'm saying if the regional political parties and the leaders have to survive they have to forget all their differences they have to forget all their egos they should realize that it is they they are fighting for their polit they they're fighting for the survivals every political party is fighting for the survival including the Congress party they can face this challenge if they are together.

[00:22:52]Look how the BJP operates. In 2014, BJP got 22 seats in in parliamentary election in Bihar was contesting election. JDU got only two seats. In 2019 parliamentary election, BJP sacrificed its five seats because BJP knew that come what may they have to form the government because if they are in government, they can spread their ideology. They can entrance their ideology. If they were not in the government that how could they one they could have won Assam and and a state like Bengal impossible.

[00:23:25]They could successfully neutralize Muslims and they would successfully neutralize Christians. They would successfully neutralize all the all the secular forces. That's my point. My point is very simple. My point is and that is why I'm saying or later this political parties will realize and that is why I'm saying this Bengal election will be a trigger point where regional political parties will not be left with any option but to unite and have some kind of functional or structural rel relationship with the Congress party. No other opt if they will not I'm mark by word save this this footage by 2029 half of the leaders will be in jail and half of the regional parties will be wiped out like they will meet the fate of they will meet the fate of so-called great chanakya called you remember what overhyped politicians. Oh, very very overhyped and we journalists feed for their ego.

[00:24:44]They are paper tigers. A Modi comes from Gujarat and overwhelms the entire country and Sharat They are basically hardcore opportunist.

[00:25:09]This is their politics.

[00:25:11]But anybody and everybody should be ashamed of such kind of politics. But these shameless creatures have no shame.

[00:25:18]That's a problem. And they do not know with what kind of for the the forces they are fighting with. This force will convert India into an Iran. I'm telling you this mark my word. And we are closely reaching to that point. We are closely reaching to that point from Gujarat to northeast. Look where they are. And they are using every instrument of upstate. Every instrument of state with no shame.

[00:25:44]>> So if we do not understand this then we are dead. I'm telling you this. After 2024 we all said Modi is gone, BJP is gone. Now every state they are winning with with handsome majority, overwhelming majority.

[00:25:58]>> Absolutely. No, I think uh harsh words but perhaps words that one needs to hear.

[00:26:04]>> No disrespect to any political leader.

[00:26:05]I'm telling you this I might be angry Priya. I might be angry. I I respect all the polit political leaders but my worry is they do not understand the nature of the state which is existing right now in Delhi. nature of the leadership and the nature of ideology.

[00:26:20]I can go on and on and on talk about this. It's it's not it's very different uh uh beast we are we are dealing with.

[00:26:29]We have to understand that Rashid I'm going to come to you quick break but I'm going to come to you on this point.

[00:26:42]>> Hello and welcome back to a cover story conversation. I think really what we're discussing is the idea of India and you know what Ashto said very passionate words but also grim reality that is awaiting us Rashid in terms of the should all the regional parties then merge into the Congress because they all are mostly Congress uh handouts I mean call outs very you see what we talk in studio or in a television debate is very different from you know what is the reality on the ground key question.

[00:27:15]If there is opposition unity, who has to who who should take lead? Has there been on the 4th of June 20124 was there anything? There was a great momentum and all three would agree. There was a great momentum for the opposition to you know come up. What did they do? So and even today there is no you know I mean uh India alliance office there is no India alliance secretary there is no as I said email there is there is no meeting they meet in the house just to decide about the you know day's work and they decide as per you know the there of course I think this is a very sort of strong thing is there to check the BJP in in Lok Sabha Raj Sabha but outside Lok Sabhaar Sabhaba there is no uh there is no unity so I am saying if Congress thinks that it has a historic duty that that they must take uh you know they take a you know lead in that direction Mr. Malikarjun because given his seniority and the kind of experience and the kind of heft he has he's very good you we and you Priya know Priyanka Gandhi can be a very this kind of person who can play because she has a lot of very good equation personal equation with not only with Akil shad but number of them some kind of initiative that initiative has to come initiative will not come from you know some regional party even if regional party wants to do it let's not forget what happened in 20 you know 23 some somewhere around that that Mr. Mr. Nikkesh Kumar was very keen and I think he had gone and met Namin Patnayak and others also and Chandra Babu Naidu and there was an attempt a serious attempt to make Nikkish Kumar as a you know a convenor and perhaps a prime ministerial candidate and all the resistance came from two quarters one is of course mamachi and other one of course was from the congress party so therefore nothing I'm not holding on this thing Kumar is an abortionist but I'm saying you know we do not know You know how leaders shape up. If we say that ideology should be a test then he himar Sharma for so many months and years he survived in Congress and he was an influential person. Now it I was just going through the shindigari his father was a minister in India alliance I'm sorry in UPA and he was himself between 95 to 2000 I think he was in Congress party. So the cong so so there is no I would say there's no scrutiny of you know who is a congressman who's not. So they all >> not who yeah not who should be the leader but should the regional identity should they all convert to form one identity and one >> so the cover story so priya cannot take initiative only only person who can take initiative in this direction is Mr. Rahul Gandhi Mr. Rahul Gandhi is surrounded by people who say don't do anything you know only will excel because all the others have you know fallen side so in that sense you know I think that movie so if that is a sort of your mental become I am saying the opposition is a bundle of contradictions I agree with Ashto on that point they when they're in power they you know they sing and dong dance about something else when in you know now Ma is down and out so she would have something but there is a sincerity that is missing the sense of purpose is missing sense of unity is missing and I think if the congress wants to play it historic duty and ultimately if there is a you know opposition government then obviously the fruits of power will come largely to the congress and of course to the regional allies so that in that scheme of thing even for very selfish reasons it is for the congress to come forward and take initiative whether it is Sonia Gandhi who comes out from semi-ret retirement it is Panka Gandhi Rahul Gandhi Malikarjun that's their job but someone has to take a lead we just cannot be crying foul in the TV studios should Congress take the lead or should Mavanji and others see the writing on the wall Ashto >> Mtab Benerji cannot lead any coalition she's so temperamental she can she can lead only her party and be dictatorial instinct she merge with the Congress My question >> that see these are the these are leaders who can lead their party with all dictatorial instinct. They have no bones for any coalition politics. They are not at viron singh. They are not narima. So we have to get it very clear and they do not have a national understanding. Again let me reiterate it. It will it will hurt many people but that is a reality. They are not dial. They are not anti Rammana.

[00:31:48]They are not Harkis Singh Singh Sujit.

[00:31:49]They are not Ramanor Luya and GP.

[00:31:52]Rammanur Luya's party was a very small party. He has a national understanding.

[00:31:57]Dilal was a small leader but with a big heart and he has a national understanding. That is why he took initiative when Rajiv Gandhi's government was at the top of his power at the peak of his power. Anti Ramar was a was a was from Andhra Pradesh was a regional leader but he knew that no political party should get this kind of a mandate because that will demolish democracy but the problem is at even at that point of time these regional leader they did not understand what is the nature of ideology of BJP say they ought helped BJP to gain power and legitimacy in the eyes of the people so I have I have I have been consistently thing Nitishh Kumar could Nitish Kumar be the leader of the India Bandhan who was not in his best of health could he and the somebody who who cannot even be trusted who's turning from one party to another party like uh anything but what kind of talk we are doing why should why just because he wanted to be the leader of that that group so he should be handed over without any any ideology without any shame, without any any anything. Shhat Pawar, why should he bailed out BJP in in 2014 when the BJP government was there without without majority? Why DMK should be handed over that? You you ally with the BJP and you form the government with him. There is no guarantee that tomorrow you you will not go with the with with Bidma. So somebody who who should be very very rooted in anti- Hindutwa politics that person should lead. I'm I'm not worried about see I'm not worried about what is happening today who will lead situation will come to a point where these leaders will will be left with no other option than to align with each other.

[00:33:54]And look whenever the opposition has come together when the position was weakest in 1967 they together anti- congressism and they could form government in nine states. In 1977 they merged and fought with Indra Gandhi and defeated her. In 1989 they again fought and defeated Rajiv Gandhi.

[00:34:15]In 2024 when they came together the BJP could not get the 272 seats. And I I I still want to show you the picture when in Bangalore the meeting was happening of 24 India Gadan leaders then suddenly you saw 38 leaders joining Bin Narendra Modi that is a scare because BJP till now has not crossed the 40% vote share at the national level they are still hinging around with 37 36%. which makes BJP very vulnerable. If if Ma Shahhatawar and all of them realize that if they are together speaking in one language have some structural functional arrangement they can still stop BJP from forming government in 2029. If they will not these leaders will finish Congress will survive. I have no doubt in my mind because Congress is a default option in this country. If there is a uh there is a fascist party so there is a space for the for the rest of the 50% population because BJP still had not been able to conquer the north the south India.

[00:35:19]They're still struggling over there.

[00:35:20]They're still struggling over there.

[00:35:22]>> So that is why I'm saying forget about whether Rahul Gandhi takes an initiative or doesn't take the initiative. Has Mtabanji taken any initiative? Has Sharawa taken any initiative? Dak taken any initiative? Arvind Kaj has taken any initiative. No. None of these leaders.

[00:35:36]Have Faruk Abdullah taken an initiative?

[00:35:39]Estalin taken an initiative? No. So why are you blaming only Congress party?

[00:35:43]Because Congress is the is the soft uh soft hand. So you can go and punch and take out your your your frustration and all kinds of angst.

[00:35:52]The Congress is the only party which is fighting with this ideology. In 2024, everybody ridiculed Gandhi.

[00:36:06]This is the Rahul Gandhi who forced BJP and RSS ideology to concede the point that the census should should happen.

[00:36:13]This has forced Narendra Modi to say and it is because of this his campaign that that BJP was restricted to 40 seats. If we don't realize this, unfortunately, it is very difficult to be Rahul Gandhi, but it's very easy to be to be Narendra Modi. What my friend has said, written in his book, you know.

[00:36:33]So, it's easy to ridicule Rahul Gandhi.

[00:36:35]Go and ridicule him because he's the easy punching box. You can't ridicule Narendra Modi because you know what what will happen. My point is very simple.

[00:36:42]Forget about Rahul Gandhi. Forget about about about Malikul Kh. Situation are moving in a direction where these leaders will be left with no option than to come together. In that context I'm saying this Bengal election should be a a warning signal and it's a turning point in my opinion in Indian politics and they will come together whether 6 months are are a year's time if they are not united Akilesh Yadu will be wiped out in UP. Akile I dare Akshadu to go in UP without without Congress party. I I I I dare him. He will not survive.

[00:37:18]He will not survive.

[00:37:21]But Congress without a chada will also not survive. So you know >> that's okay that's okay but the point is you are such a big leader why your political since the since the inception of your since the creation of the samajwadi party why the mulam singleshu has not been able to get more than 40% seats 40% votes they got such big egos why at least mabenery had 48% vote share in uh after losing uh after almost losing battle In 2019 she got 48% vote in 2019 I salute her but what about manag what what about a shad you talk about you do the politics of PDA you talk about the social justice politics social justice is compromised of 52% vote share in UP why you have not been able to get it because you are incompetent because you don't want to work hard so and look at BJP from 15% they jump to 45% 30% Trump if the PJP can do obviously Keshadu can also do it.

[00:38:27]So I'm sorry Priya I'm looking very angry today and I'm using such words which normally I don't use it >> but as a as a as a Indian I feel upset because I see very dark clouds this country will not survive and these leaders regional leaders they do not realize this they're only fighting for chairs they're only fighting for their egos. I'm telling you if Kleshu tomorrow decides to go without without Congress party he will not get more than 20 22 to 23% vote share Muslims will not vote for them because he's not fighting their battle the only man who's fighting this battle is Rahul Gandhi in the Congress party he he he at least walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir he walked from Gojhati to to Gujarat what Akshadu has done has he walked from Gazyabad to to Gazipur >> he is touring the whole state But Priya no and Priya Priya we must not forget you see the thing is my friend Ashto is a theoretician but he time many time he glosses over the inherent contradiction that exist you know you saying that you know Akad you know cannot win in UP without Congress point what is the Congress vote percentage 4% 6% now if you have 4% 6% and in a state that elects 80 MPs where when and where are you going to you know beat the BJP And you see you look at Mayawati now Mayawati is sitting pretty in the sense that she's losing she's indifferent she's but she's taking away you know the 10% to 18% whatever figure you want to arrive at you know of the opposition votes so therefore I'm saying that the opposition is in a very sorry state and I don't see the congress coming on its own to get you know 272 plus uh in at least in my lifetime simply because in 254 look seats as I mentioned you know you have a single digit uh support here.

[00:40:17]So therefore and who will build alliance if everybody is bad if saw is bad and see bria you have no option in applied side of politics in pragmatic sense you have no option so the the option before you are all this that Jagani you see you look at andra you look at Telangana there is no opposition space >> right >> and you see the BJD and YSR Congress would not join with the Congress so therefore if there is some other formation if MDA can do that or anybody can do that then there is some kind of you know movement forward and therefore I'm saying there's one thing that I take idealistic position and say you know we can take that position about every opposition leader but fact of the matter is that you need to do business with that and to talk about Priya I know it's your pet theme these days you know you talk about merger the merger of a political party can take place let's assume but merger of assets does not take this >> okay so NCP sharp paval in Maharashtra has assets they would not like to part those assets to the Congress party similarly with MTA similar so these are the you know inherent problems and contradictions are there we can go on criting the BJP I'm not holding brief for BJP what I'm saying is the opposition has insurmountable challenges and there is a need for pragmatic approach as I said leadership and ideology And when nobody is analogically inclined, I always ask people okay you can go on we are the most rabid politicians in the BJP are not from the BJP not from the RS background they are from the Congress is a very clear example is a very pleasing example. So the Congress also needs to introspect what kind of leaders are you producing half of them are in BJP. You look at asam one third of them are in BJP. So you opportunism rather than ideology.

[00:42:15]>> Yeah. So stick to that. So stick to that pissing also came from Congress. Now stable the Congress minister.

[00:42:22]You can call him cast. You can call him whatever. What I'm saying is that there is a very easy thing that Congress cannot escape its you know responsibility or its role. I also you know would want Congress to become stronger. But how there is no road map >> and okay Ash last word to you.

[00:42:43]>> No I think uh we we both are we both are angry there. So I I can understand his anger and my anger and it is basically what it's a manifestation what we say today. Uh I completely agree with with with Rashid that there is a contradiction a very strong contradictions.

[00:43:03]My I'm only suggesting is okay are we facing a situation with the country faced at the a thousand AD when we fought with each other and then they we were overwhelmed by the by the the foreigners for another thousand years is is is that our inherent uh sadharm something like that but situation has changed because there is a democratic consciousness now in this democratic consciousness finally these people will realize And I'm telling you they are realizing it. They are realizing that it will take time. The contradiction will the contradiction will remain. If in 2024 they could come together. The problem with the 2024 is after that that that victory or whatever you say uh the partial victory or the partial loss whatever you say they they failed to take the momentum forward. They could have given an structural form. They could have given a functional form. They could have come out with one communication line. They should have come out with one one agenda, one structural meeting that every week we'll meet, every we have a cup of tea, we'll have a some some food here and there >> that one email address >> but but 24 parties coming together had shaken Narendra Modi at that point of time.

[00:44:19]>> He had left with no other option than to get 38 to show to get a picture that we are also here we it's not that we are but that was a sign of weakness. I'm not I'm not worried about whether Ma is taking taking initiative or Sharataw is taking initiative or Arvin Kra is taking initiative Gandhi situation has come when initiative will come they will be left with no other option than to come together the only thing is who takes that initiative I'm only leaving at that point if not then mark my word half of the leaders will be in jail and half of the party will will be like Sharataw's NCP and uh uh they will be a party on paper nothing else. So it's it's a very different situation right now. And last point I think the message from uh from Tamil Nadu is that you don't rule out some totally unknown unseen emerges from somewhere.

[00:45:22]>> I think that is a note we can agree on.

[00:45:24]there is a concern and also the urgency for the opposition to come together >> and Priya let me let me let me say to to your viewers if I uttered a word which was uh not good sounded harsh I'm sorry for that >> no no it is passionate and I don't think it was uh it was harsh in the sense that there were harsh truths that needed to be told not harsh in the language or this thing but uh I think this was a debate that needs to happen because what is at danger and at stake is the idea of India and that is something I hope we're We'll keep discussing and continuing conversations. But for now, thank you both. This has been a very refreshing conversation. Thank you.

[00:46:00]>> Thank you.

[00:46:01]>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[00:46:09]>> For more such videos, subscribe to the NewsX YouTube channel. Hit the bell icon.