The INDIA alliance met in the national capital on Wednesday evening to discuss the scenario emerging out of the Lok Sabha results, resolving to fight against the “fascist rule” of the BJP-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also making it clear that it was open to exploring the possibility of forming government at a later date.
At the end of a two-hour-long meeting of the allies held at his residence, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge briefed the media about the discussion, saying that the allies had a common message to convey in the form of a joint statement. He read out from it, saying the constituents of the INDIA bloc thanked the people for the overwhelming support received by the alliance.
He said the people's mandate has given a befitting reply to the BJP and their politics of hate, corruption and deprivation. “This is a mandate in defence of the Constitution of India and against price rise, unemployment and crony capitalism and also to save democracy,” he said.
In what indicated the INDIA bloc's readiness to act as a strong opposition, Kharge said, “The INDIA bloc will continue to fight against the fascist rule of the BJP led by Modi.” And he significantly added: “We will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise the people's desire not to be ruled by the BJP's government.”
The statement assumes significance in the backdrop of speculation on the INDIA alliance reaching out to NDA allies such as the TDP and the JD(U), whose support will be crucial for the Modi-led government to survive.
The INDIA alliance parties, it is learnt, will continue to question the legitimacy of Modi as prime minister, contending that he has lost the mandate to occupy the post. Emphasis was placed in the meeting on the need to continue as a united front inside and outside Parliament.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Kharge said Modi retaining prime ministership amounts to subverting the will of the people. “The mandate is decisively against Mr Modi, against him and the substance and style of his politics. It is a huge political loss for him personally apart from being a clear moral defeat as well,” he said.
There are indications that while no proactive efforts are being made at the moment to cobble up numbers, the alliance was open to the idea of getting more parties on board. This was articulated by Kharge when he said, “the INDIA alliance welcomes all parties which share its fundamental commitment to the values enshrined in the Preamble to our Constitution and to its many provisions for economic, social and political justice.”