BJP's criticism on opposition unity is oblivious of its own history
The BJP describing united opposition as a potpourri of parties without any ideological commonality holds true even for NDA. The BJP said that all parties such as Congress, SP, BSP TMC, and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP, their ideologies do not match but the fear of Narendra Modi is bringing them together. But, this is not unusual in India.
During the hay days of Congress, then opposition parties got united on blind anti-Congressism. But, the BJP should explain to the nation what is the commonality between BJP and its allies. The only party with which the saffron party has an ideological convergence, the Shiv Sena already declared that it would independently contest in 2019. The ideologically divergent parties like BJP and the PDP share power in Jammu and Kashmir.
While the BJP calls for abrogation of Article 370 that accords autonomy for the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP wants the state to be given maximum autonomy. Similarly, the BJP allied with Indigenous people front of Tripura (IPFT) though both these parties have diametrically opposite views on the formation of separate state of Tipraland. Yet, both these parties came together to defeat CPM.
Many of these parties that converged at Bengaluru were a part of BJP led NDA in the past. The parties like TMC, TDP, SP etc. have allied with BJP in the past.
The BJP should be conversant with the history of Indian politics or at least the history of it.
Notwithstanding reverses in its strongholds like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, the BJP's assertion that it would win with bigger margin in 2019 is purely in the realm of political speculation. The series of electoral reverses in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and even Gujarat cannot in anyway be compensated by small gains in the tiny states of North East India. The BJP cannot dismiss these electoral reverses as insignificant though they are by-elections.
Meanwhile, the BJP's claims of NDA intact are unfounded given the Shiv Sena's revolt and Akali Dal sulking, TDP estranging. In fact, allies like the PDP and even the smaller allies in Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala are uncomfortable with the big brother.
