Challenges for INDIA

TThe uppermost question the leaders of the 28-party INDIA alliance will be pondering when they meet in Delhi today would be: will they be able to come together to challenge the Bhartiya Janata Party in the crucial Hindi states?

Having emerged victorious in the three key Hindi states in a tough contest against the Indian National Congress, the BJP is simply no pushover.

Though the the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal-Janata Dal-United (RJD-JDU) are formidable combinations, they are still no match for the BJP which has a superior organisation, is flush with funds, has entire Hindi media toeing its line, has a leader with proven mass appeal in the Hindi belt and Gujarat.

Moreover, with the major promise of the BJP i.e., construction of Ram Mandir about to be consecrated on January 22, the opposition would need to think of a message that could neutralise the pro-BJP euphoria it would unleash.

With Congress’ claim of being the central pole having been weakened with its recent defeats, they would need how they place the grand old party in the scheme of things on a turf where the BJP enjoys huge advantage and the Congress shy of assertion of its centrality.