Opposition shouldn’t make it ‘Modi vs who’ but ‘Modi vs message’

The INDIA alliance has wrapped up its third conclave, this time in Mumbai. After every INDIA meeting, BJP asks the question: ‘Modi vs who?’ or who will be the Opposition ‘face’ to challenge PM Modi in 2024. But searching for a ‘face’ to combat the dominant persona of the PM is only to the BJP’s advantage. Instead of worrying about ‘Modi vs who,’ INDIA should focus on ‘Modi vs message’.Momentum is rapidly building for the general elections and the Opposition needs to go to the people with an alternate constructive vision of national renewal. Instead of only voicing fears of rising majoritarianism and democracy in danger, it’s time to craft a concrete message of hope. The BJP campaigns on the slogan of a ‘Rising India’. The Opposition needs to find a counter-narrative and offer its own vision of a ‘Better India’.At election time, citizens look for a roadmap to the future. Positivity not negativity is needed. The slogan ‘Samvidhan khatre mein hai’ (Constitution is in danger) may ignite TV debates, but does the average citizen really care? In a recent India Today poll, a majority held every political party guilty of the misuse of state power, although a substantial number said that the BJP government misuses state agencies more brazenly. However, despite democratic backsliding, BJP’s votes are only growing. BJP won 7.8 crore votes in 2009, streaking up to nearly 22.9 crore votes in 2019. In contrast, in the same period, Congress has remained static at around 11.9 crore votes. Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra slogan "nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukaan". (A shop of love in a market of hate), may consolidate the core Congress vote, but will it attract new voters?Yet the Opposition’s cause is by no means lost. The name ‘INDIA’ and the slogan ‘Judega Bharat, Jeetega India’ resonate with the prevailing spirit of nationalism. All Opposition leaders gathered together in one room make for good optics. Opposition parties rule over a dozen states covering over 300 Lok Sabha seats. The sheer breadth of the alliance makes INDIA a jumbo-sized player. True, not all non-NDA parties are on board and state level rivalries exist. However, many Opposition leaders like Mamata Banerjee and MK Stalin are political stalwarts with a genuine mass connect. Sharad Pawar is a resourceful politician, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar were able to halt the BJP juggernaut in 2015 and the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has defeated BJP in Delhi three times. The INDIA name, the slogan and optics are all good. But what is missing is a message that goes beyond anti-Modi-ism. ShowBlurbsBJP is promising Amrit Kaal by 2047 when a resurgent turbocharged India will take its place at the global high table. The Opposition needs to present an alternate vision of pro-poor programmes that reach out to those being left behind in this ‘new’ India dream. The opinion poll found that 72% Indians believe that unemployment is a severe crisis while 55% believe that the government’s policies help big business and not smaller enterprises. A majority believe that their economic condition will either worsen or stagnate. An alert government has moved to address public woes by slashing LPG prices. But a more cohesive Opposition could address this significant economic anxiety to pitch for a growth model that is more just and equitable. In 2019, Congress came up with the ‘Nyay’ scheme, promising minimum income guarantee for the poor. But Nyay was too late in coming and was drowned in Balakot triumphalism. Five years later, can the Opposition build a new template to make itself more electable?Brand Opposition needs to stand for more than just anti-Modi-ism or the ‘love’ versus ‘hate’ binary. The INDIA alliance is not short on economists. A well-designed social security income guarantee scheme, with allocations for quality health and education for those who are ‘left behind’, not only answers a real need, but could also make INDIA a serious contender in 2024.Why not, for example, take the best from the Opposition-ruled states to create this alternate programme? INDIA could take the Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme from Bengal, Tamil Nadu’s school education outreach, Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme from Rajasthan, the primary health mohalla clinic model of Delhi and scale these up into a comprehensive all- India inclusive vision, named the ‘Best Of INDIA’. Such a combination of state-level achievements showcases India’s federal structure and shows how well it can deliver for citizens. The challenge therefore for the INDIA alliance in 2024 is not to attempt a ‘Modi vs who’ national leadership battle but instead to make it a ‘Modi vs mudda’ (issues) localised contest.