‘No longer will parliament be muzzled and stifled’: India’s opposition could hurt PM Modi’s ambitions

COALITION POLITICS IS INHERENTLY RISKY The Congress party admitted that forging consensus among traditional rivals in the alliance was tough. There were defections to the BJP and disagreements over seat-sharing. During the election, there were INDIA bloc candidates who stood against each other in some seats. But what turned the tide for them was a crackdown by the BJP in the run-up to the polls, said observers. Dr Jagdeep Chhokar, founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms, said: “They came together because they perhaps realised that this was the time, that if they did not come together, then there would not be (another) opportunity again”. Delhi’s popular Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, for instance, was arrested just before polling began in March, and other opposition leaders were targeted by federal agencies. The Congress’ bank accounts were also restricted. “We surrendered our egos, our identities,” said Congress’ Mr Khera. “It was not difficult, Mr Modi made it very easy for us.” Observers told CNA that the opposition, if they manage to stay united, could present a threat to Mr Modi’s coalition government. Consensus politics is new to Mr Modi, whose alliance with regional parties Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United), or JDU – former Congress allies – seems fragile. The parties have in the past admitted they do not agree with his Hindu nationalist politics. But experts said coalition politics is inherently risky, and chances of defections run both ways. They added that it is still unclear if the opposition can remain united against Mr Modi. “Coalitions in India are always kind of on tenterhooks,” said Dr Chhokar. “Because none of our politicians are really predictable. And therefore what they will do today, what they will do tomorrow or what they will do after two months is very difficult to say.”