Fratricidal opposition

The Opposition did not exactly cover itself with glory in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the first day of business of the new session. For all the anguish that the Congress and Samajwadi Party ostensibly feel over rural suicides, it was not sufficient to produce a focused and forceful discussion in the House on the harsh economic conditions many farmers face. Indeed, to judge by the obstructive tactics of SP members that day, putting the Congress in its place seemed by far the most important business on their minds. The lack of crop insurance, farmers8217; indebtedness, the real prospect of drought once again in some states, all this paled beside the one-point SP agenda of preventing Sonia Gandhi from being heard. The incident speaks volumes about the level of the SP8217;s commitment to farmers. It also exposes the complete absence of Opposition coordination. If something as uncontroversial and urgent as the plight of farmers cannot end the bickering, what will?

In the event, the SP had its way for Sonia Gandhi took the floor the next day only after the balloting process favoured the Congress and not because it is the privilege of the leader of the Opposition to address the House first. It is a pity that one more Parliamentary convention has fallen by the wayside for no good reason. The Congress can lament the incident but should really be asking itself why it occurred at all. It could hardly be, as Congress leaders later made out that, the SP wanted to seize the limelight with an eye on the forthcoming Assembly elections in UP. It is most unlikely that farmers in UP or anywhere else, for that matter, would be watching television in the middle of the day or would see any point in the wrangling. More plausibly it was an attempt to cut Sonia Gandhi down to size. The passage of time does not seem to have lessened Mulayam Singh Yadav8217;s personal animosity towards her which originated in the Congress leader8217;s topple-Vajpayee tactics last year. Time does not seem to havemellowed the Congress either or taught it that leadership involves courting other Opposition parties and winning their confidence. There is also the remoteness and formality of the Congress leadership which may be due to its own internal uncertainties and search for a direction but which are bound to be interpreted as arrogance by Opposition parties used to an easygoing, fraternal style of functioning. The message is, a leader of the Opposition needs to earn the privileges of that position.

Personalities and differences in style prevent Opposition parties from coming together. That is unfortunate because when it comes to substantive issues, there is, surprisingly, not so much to divide them. With good leadership and coordination the Opposition could be more effective in Parliament regardless of how the parties are positioned in the states. As things stand government policies and decisions go through without serious challenge from the Opposition. In fact, the National Democratic Alliance has more to fear from Mamata Banerjee who manages to engage the government on a range of issues far more effectively. If Opposition parties want to fight for farmers they should first sink their own differences.