The process of political realignment appears to have begun after the naming of Mr Narendra Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. The Congress on Friday expressed confidence of the coming together of “like-minded” parties against communalism, saying it is the “biggest threat” to Indian democracy.
The Congress also appreciated the Left’s consistent fight against communalism. Replying to a volley of questions, including on whether the Congress sees the Left parties as “natural and prospective allies” in the current political situation, AICC spokesman P.C. Chacko told reporters the Communist parties had all along had a “consistent” stand on communalism. “With all our differences, one point I have to agree is that on communalism the Left parties have always been opposed to it... To that extent we are close,” he said, adding “communalism has emerged as the biggest threat to Indian democracy”. At the same time, he said if the Congress has something in common with other like-minded parties, that does not mean political alliances.
The Congress played the secular card at a time when the BJP is claiming it will win about 200 Lok Sabha seats under the leadership of Narendra Modi and is confident that the Trinamul Congress, AIADMK and BJD will have no option but to back Mr Modi after the polls.
But a senior Congress leader, who declined to be identified, said if options are available the Congress would like to have the support of both the Left and the Trinamul Congress. He said secular forces are bound to come together.
Meanwhile, accusing the RSS-BJP of sharpening the communal divide for electoral gains, the CPI(M) on Friday said the death and displacement of a large number of people in the Muzaffarnagar riots was the “perfect backdrop” for the BJP to anoint Mr Modi as its PM candidate.