Each opposition has to bend to each other to win: BJP cannot be defeated

  - Artha Samhita - P. Chidambaram

- Under the current circumstances, it does not seem possible for every opposition to come on one platform

- The opposition has a lot of strength and momentum but no common leader or candidate behind which the opposition can stand

- Regional and other parties in the country have a lot of influence in their states and also run the governance.

- Neither party in the opposition shall allow the other party to occupy a full foothold in a state

The Indian National Congress is the oldest political party in India, but the Bharatiya Janata Party is not only the largest but also the richest party. Out of the total votes cast in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP candidates received a cumulative 37.40 percent votes. Congress candidates got 19.50 percent votes. There are also regional and other parties in the country which have a lot of influence in their states and even rule in some states.

India's electoral map is a political mosaic of many. BJP's aim is to make this imposition only saffron in colour. Which is not hidden. The goal of the opposition (those who oppose the BJP) is to replace the BJP at the center and form a liberal, progressive and inclusive government.

A challenge to the opposition

In every election since 2014, BJP has been seeking votes not in the name of party or manifesto but in the name of Narendra Modi. He has appealed to the voters of Karnataka to such an extent that he will form a new government on May 10 and hand over Karnataka to Modi. Modi remains the candidate of every constituency for BJP. BJP believes that Modi alone is enough to achieve his goals everywhere.

As of today, it appears that the opposition does not have a common leader or candidate behind which the opposition can stand. This situation may change but we see the situation today. The opposition has many strengths and assets and this article tries to explain how these strengths can be utilized by the opposition.

As the Janata Party was formed in 1977, the current opposition cannot and will not form such a new party on a single platform. Neither party in the opposition will allow the other party to establish full footholds in a state. Despite repeated requests, Dehe contested the elections in Uttarakhand and TMC in Goa in 2022. AAP is also contesting elections in Karnataka. Complete opposition unity is desirable, but it does not seem possible.

Naturally, it has to be admitted that the BJP is more influential than the main opposition in many states. (BJP has 302 members in Lok Sabha).

According to me, if the Ekta Mancha of Opposition is formed, Congress can fight on 209 Lok Sabha seats. Similarly, SP, TMC, RJD, JD(U), DMK, BRS and AAP can fight on 225 seats. There are two to three parties in three states that can challenge the BJP. The winner of 53 seats in seven states can become BJP's partner.

The main rule

Next step: Each party in the Opposition Ekta Mancha has to accept that the main opposition will contest most of the seats in that state and in return this opposition will have to vacate the seat in favor of the opposition member who is most likely to win in another state where it is not the main opposition. Then why should the member not belong to any party. In some cases it may even happen that a member of the main opposition has to be denied a ticket.

The original aim should not be to win as many seats as possible for each major opposition but to defeat the BJP in as many seats as possible. Each opposition needs to lean against the other to win.

The math is simple. BJP is in a position to win 150 seats. In the opposition, Congress is the only party which can win more than 100 seats. All other oppositions can collectively win a maximum of 40 seats, even if the tide is not in their favour. BJP cannot be defeated.