* Now that many Opposition parties have come on a single platform to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building, is it part of a well-thought-out strategy?
In our recent meetings with top Opposition leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, we have decided that we would put up joint Opposition action on major issues, rather than indulging in scattered shows of protests against the Centre. This would be replicated in states in the coming days. The second major decision we have taken is to avoid controversial issues. To start with, we are not putting up any protest against V D Savarkar’s birth anniversary, which coincides with the day of inauguration of the new Parliament building. These are good opening moves by the Opposition as a unit.
* What is the idea behind rallying the Opposition against the BJP?
We want to replicate the model of 1974 Bihar Movement (JP Movement) and subsequent coming together of several parties to form Janata Party in 1977. We also want our unity to be modelled on what VP Singh had attempted before 1989 Lok Sabha polls and succeeded too. We have identified 475 seats so far where there could be one-one-one fight with BJP (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls). We want our alliance partners to fight the BJP head-on where they are strong. If we succeed in doing so, we would be able to reduce the BJP’s tally and increase ours.
* But will Congress cede its ground to accommodate smaller allies at its expense?
Of course, Congress will do it because all parties such as RJD, JD(U), NCP, JMM, Shiv Sena(UBT) and SP would also cede their grounds for smaller allies. We are realising our respective areas of strength, region and state-wise and strategise strongly. We are emboldened by solidarity shown by leaders like Mamata Banerjee who said that the people would not forgive us if we do not unite now.
* But the Opposition has still not succeeded in breaking ice with southern heavyweights like KCR and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
They are work in progress…they have not yet committed to us because of their reservation over Congress. But they are very much against BJP. If BRS, YSRCP and BJD get more MPs than BJP in 2024 polls, we will be only happy. The whole idea is to curtail BJP’s strength. And who knows these parties could play a crucial role in post-poll scenario. We also look strong in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, quite strong in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Punjab, Jharkhand and Rajasthan.
* But what are your difficult states?
Gujarat and UP are two states where we have a lot of work to do. Fights between AAP and Congress in Gujarat had hurt us. We also have to redo the alliance in UP by roping in smaller parties against a very strong BJP.
* So, what is the next big Opposition move?
We are planning a big meeting of Opposition parties in Patna in second or third week of June depending on availability of Rahul Gandhi and other top leaders. With Nitish Kumar now having met all top Opposition leaders, we are on course to take it to practical conclusions. So far, it has been going well.
* But why Nitish Kumar is often seen accompanied by his deputy Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in most of his meetings with the Opposition leaders? Is it part of any deal between the two?
By taking along Tejashwi for these meetings, Bihar CM has been giving a strong message of Opposition unity and a need for replication of its Bihar model where seven parties came together last August to forge an alliance. Tejashwi is also the leader of a major political party like RJD that has influenced state politics for a long time under the leadership of his charismatic father Lalu Prasad… There is no deal. The only deal is to work towards ousting the authoritarian rule of the BJP.
* Is Opposition also reaching out to parties like the erstwhile NDA ally Akali Dal?
Akali Dal was born as an Opposition party against Congress and AAP has also emerged in Punjab at the expense of Congress. But Akali Dal is not likely to go with BJP, which will be only win-win situation for us.
* Now that Nitish Kumar has been creating a buzz at the national level, can one see him contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election?
Though I have no such knowledge about it, Nitish Kumar would be definitely under pressure to contest next Lok Sabha polls. But it is too early to discuss it and he alone is the right person to answer this question.
* Finally, your comeback is in the spotlight now. What is your take?
Nitish Kumar and I share a relationship of 48 years. During these years, I was with him and was also in a different socialist party but we have never been indifferent towards each other. I firmly hold that Nitish is one of the few leaders who have kept the socialist flame alive and retained aggression once shown by leaders like Rammanohar Lohia, Karpoori Thakur and George Fernandes. My friendship with him does not depend on me getting or not getting a Rajya Sabha nomination like a leader (RCP Singh), who quit the party just because he was not renominated to Rajya Sabha. I am not a seasonal politician. I had guts to say no to Chandrashekhar’s offer of becoming information and broadcasting minister as I was committed to V P Singh. The late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan had given me the offer to contest from BJP in 2004 from Meerut but I said no because I wanted to remain a socialist forever.
Santosh Singh… read more