Formidable opposition alliance can be stitched to defeat BJP in 2019: Chidambaram


Kolkata, Aug 26(Zee News): Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has said that a formidable alliance of opposition parties can be stitched together to defeat the BJP and free India from the "reign of fear" in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Chidambaram, however, avoided directly answering a question on the leadership issue or who would be the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance, saying it is a premature question. "Let us form the alliance and let the elections take place. All of you want to know the answer even before the script is written," he said.

The former finance minister said the most important issue on which all opposition parties agree to is that the saffron party should be defeated. "On that point, there is a convergence of views in many states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, etc. That convergence will bring together opposition parties and alliances will be formed state-wise," Chidambaram said.

He said for the first time, "we are witnessing a sense of fear" among a large section of people in the country. "The Dalits live in fear, the Muslims live in fear, the women live in fear, the press live in fear," he said.

"We are moving away from the accepted democratic rights and democratic positions. This is a dangerous trend for the country. We wanted freedom (from British rule) because we want to live without fear. And today, a vast section of the country lives in fear and this has to end," Chidambaram said.

Asked whether the Congress will replicate the Karnataka model, where despite being the largest party in the Congress-JD(S) alliance it gave away the CM's post to JD(S) to keep the BJP at bay, he said it is too early to comment on it.

"Karnataka was a state election. We talked about Karnataka after the election results were announced. Now, the major challenge is the Parliament election and eight months ahead of the polls, we can't talk about what will happen after election.

"There will be alliance in each state depending upon the context of the state... The alliance has to be state-specific. So I think a formidable alliance can be stitched together state-wise for the Parliament elections," he said.

On reports of certain opposition parties like the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the Trinamool Congress not being very comfortable with the Congress leading the front, Chidambaram said it is advisable to wait till the election and the alliance talks to begin.

Several opposition parties including the TMC and the TRS have expressed their reservation about working under the leadership of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, considered as a "junior politician".

Asked whether the TMC would be part of the Congress-led opposition alliance, as the Bengal Congress unit is not in favour of it, he said, "I am not competent to answer that question. But, I am sure when I say that all parties who are opposed to BJP and all who are keen to replace the BJP should come together and form the alliance, that's the position I have stated. Let's see what happens."

About the possibility of formation of such an alliance before the Lok Sabha polls, he said if one or two parties decide to stay away from pre-election alliance, "I am sure they can join the alliance post the election".

Criticising the Centre on various issues ranging from incidents of lynching to anti-romeo squads, Chidambaram said that people have been either vegetarian or non-vegetarian for hundreds of years, but never ever were they lynched on the suspicion of keeping a particular meat in their house.

"What is happening is serious erosion of democracy, serious erosion of freedom. This has to be stopped in the next Lok Sabha election," he said.

The senior Congress leader said that the Narendra Modi government was trying to undermine the success in delivering a better economic growth during the UPA 1 and 2 regime.

"You can't hide the numbers. The numbers speak for themselves. This is desperation of the Modi government to project itself as better than the UPA government.

"They keep on boasting that in the last 60 years, nothing has happened, but our record is far better than the BJP's," he added.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Susan Bangera, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    RaGa is already making a fool of himself and the grand old party thru his utterances in Germany and London. So who is going to lead this formidable opposition? Mamta Begum?

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • N.M, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    We are moving away from the accepted democratic rights and democratic positions. This is a dangerous trend for the country. We wanted freedom (from British rule) because we want to live without fear. And today, a vast section of the country lives in fear and this has to end.

    DisAgree [4] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent DSouza, Belthangady

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    This Guy now only spits Venom on BJP like the Egyptian Cobra. A Selfish, Greedy, Corrupt Anna. This Guy wanted to Tax the NRE Indians & because the NRE's united to repel this proposal. CBI must grill his nose & tax him heavily to compensate for his misdeeds. Chain his Family Members to exhibit the link of nasty & corrupt clan.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • anil, mumbai

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    AFTER 2019 ELECTION INDIA WILL GET NEW PRIME MINISTER.

    GOOD LUCK INDIA

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • R Bhandarkar, Mangaluru

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    This fellows place is not in the Bar,but behind bars whatever May happen.
    Looter of the first order.
    Face now resembles exactly that of a robber.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • R Bhandarkar, Mangaluru

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    Faces questioning from the ED almost every day now for 6-8 hours.
    In the remaining time ,shameless does this for time pass,hoping perhaps against hope for a RS seat or something by being in the news.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    You forgot the Modi's (Nirav & Lalit) ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rathna, Bengaluru

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    In the bar or behind bars, that's for the courts to decide, until then have patience. Criminals with graver offences have gotten away unscathed in the past and all you have against PC is '6 - 8 hours a day of questioning by ED' so far and you have placed him behind bars already! You seem to be very concerned about his facial looksThat being said, some high fliers despite being on imported mushroom diet, look like jailbirds on the run. LOL

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • R Bhandarkar, Mangaluru

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    Perfect English but alas!
    Imperfect facts.
    Exclamatory Mark and all correct no ...teacher ?

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilfred J. Lewis, Matpady-Brahmavar/ New York, USA

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    Sounds like a myth. Even it is formed, coalition will be like present Karnataka government, and will fail. BJP alone is too strong. Lean to be in opposition for next 5 years.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • NAVEEN, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    "we are witnessing a sense of fear. All chor parties are sensing fear. Mr Chidambram and son looted tax payer money. That is why he is fearing.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • ASHRAF HUSSAIN, Latvia, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    What about nirav, chokshi and vijay Mallya.
    R they pious ??

    DisAgree [6] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • NAVEEN, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    Who given the loan to them. Without proper document Congress govt given the loan.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian Menezes, Kota

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    Govt never gives loan from a bank, it is the bank management which sanctions loans as per their rules.

    DisAgree [1] Agree Report Abuse

  • Manvit, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    BJP has done nothing for the last 4 years and Pappu is so confident that there is corruption in Rafeal & no job creation then why you need to have so much fear that Modi will come to power again & why you call street hawkers to forma an alliance??? Really funny.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • sense_shetty, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    Reminds me of "A Stitch in time saves Nine" .But will the opposition with leaders like Rahul,Sonia,Mulayam,Devegowda,Lalu,Mamta Banerjee ,Mayawati ..able to stitch such an alliance with their own credibility at stake ..in terms of corruption and mismanagement

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • anil, mumbai

    Sun, Aug 26 2018

    THEY ARE BETTER THAN YOUR FEKU & TEAM.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Formidable opposition alliance can be stitched to defeat BJP in 2019: Chidambaram



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.