Disunity political DNA

The INDIA coalition was launched on July 18, 2023 as India’s strongest defense against BJP’s prolonged single party dominance. Yet today it is faltering under its own contradictions. The DMK has broken publicly with Congress, calling its support for the newly formed TVK government a betrayal. In Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s electoral rout has triggered internal revolt, turning her from an asset into a liability. AAP has rejected any notion of alliance with Congress.” These are not minor quarrels but signs of deeper unravelling. The reality is that opposition’s disunity is its DNA which has reshaped the political landscape, giving the BJP space to strengthen its position while rivals remain divided. Personal rivalries and unresolved leadership questions continue to weaken the INDIA bloc. Recent elections in Bengal and Tamil Nadu have deepened these cracks. The DMK, once supportive of Rahul Gandhi as INDIA’s leader, has severed its ties to the INDIA bloc. Meanwhile, strained ties between Congress and AAP highlight the reluctance for any tie up as AAP contests Punjab directly against Congress. This paradox explains the bloc’s fragility. The contrast with the BJP is stark. The ruling party operates under centralized leadership, internal discipline, and a cadre network of 1.5 million, including the RSS and with unmatched financial resources. Disputes are managed internally; the machine absorbs shocks. Opposition parties, by contrast, revolve around dynastic figures– Mamata, Gandhi, Stalin, Kejriwal– where loyalty to individuals outweighs ideology. Their alliances remain ad hoc, formed to stop the BJP in one election, lacking institutional ballast to endure. At the heart of this crisis lies a leadership vacuum. Surveys show Prime Minister Narendra Modi commanding over 60 percent public favour, while Rahul Gandhi lags at 27 percent. Though Rahul remains the bloc’s projected leader on paper, regional parties such as SP, now DMK, AAP are unwilling to accept him and refuse to subordinate their machines. Their resistance is not vanity alone but reflects Rahul’s inability to adapt to the leadership role. In Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and northern states, regional parties rely on their own organizational strength. For them, Congress is both like a fulcrum and rival: essential for national coordination yet threat to their local bases. Defections and splits have further eroded opposition strength. Six Rajya Sabha MPs from AAP have joined the BJP, while 60 out of 80 TMC legislators and 19 out of 29 MPs have shifted toward the BJP. The BJP has also capitalized on instability within other parties, weakening the TDP, JD(U), and Akali Dal, while the Shiv Sena and NCP have fractured or lost influence. These shifts have helped the BJP consolidate numbers in both Houses of Parliament. To achieve opposition unity, the Congress must act as catalyst, not dominant party. Its national presence and organizational skeleton are unmatched, but the Nehru Gandhi legacy has become a bottleneck. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, despite their progressive images, have not driven the party with decisive energy. A coalition fronted by a consensus figure with regional command and less dynastic baggage may endure longer. If the opposition hopes to present a credible alternative, it must move beyond ad hoc alliances and mutual blame. Resolving leadership disputes and building a durable national committee will be essential. Without unity and clarity of purpose, the opposition will lose even the little it has while the BJP continues to expand its hold.