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politics

Opposition leaders have limited their Political to the economic policies of Modi. How-
critique of the current regime to re- developments of past ever, their opposition is limited. They
gional issues with local appeal. only make it a part of their election
If Chandra Babu Naidu is complain- few months suggest manifesto. In reality, both the parties
ing that his demand of special status confine themselves to the issues that
to his state is being ignored, Mamata that it was Congress are relevant to the political or social
is complaining of dividing the state which wanted an needs of the state. They mostly attack
on communal lines and giving inad- BJP on governance issues and target
equate economic aid, Kumarswamy is anti-BJP poll alliance Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Even
also taking up same issues. The com- without being an issues like mob-lynching and cow-
mon complaint from these regional vigilantism have regional relevance for
parties is that the Modi government actual partner of it. them despite the fact that these issues
has unleashed a vendetta politics and The party, it seems, are national in nature.
is using government agencies to target Rahul has been able to put forward
the Opposition. Though, issues like GST, wanted to create an an alternative narrative which is com-
demonetization and farm distress form independent appeal prehensive and national in nature. He
part of the overall Opposition attack, no is placing a different form of govern-
comprehensive narrative could be built ance before the people. That is why he
around them. is highlighting select programs of UPA
The SP and BSP, the two giant parties like MNREGA and stressing a pro-poor
of Uttar Pradesh which returns 80 MPs • Joining hands Can hearts meet and hands agenda of the Congress. May be it is re-
to Lok Sabha, are apparently opposed hold for long as opposition alliance is formed? vival of Indira Gandhi’s ‘Garibi Hatao’.

Tehelka / 15 february 2019 21 www.Tehelka.com