18th Lok Sabha Hits and Misses: A reality check and the first face-off

The 18th Lok Sabha is met with a reconstituted government and a rearranged opposition. The election fever is over, however, it seems that both the government and the opposition are still locked in the campaign mode and look in a hurry to acknowledge this. It’s time to move on, hit reset, refresh, and respect each other despite the political and ideological differences.

Addressing the Parliament this week, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Monday, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the same house the next day— speaking on the motion of thanks to the President’s address was dispiriting and also inescapable. Both sides are displayed as if they are still riding high as if the electoral campaigns have not ended. Both also appeared to inhabit similar make-believe that the mandate has not been taken down by the BJP-led government by more than a notch, and that it had not withheld by a bigger margin a majority from the INDIA bloc.

Congress-led Opposition is plain wrong in its reading of the verdict as an outright victory for itself and a decisive defeat for the BJP, the BJP’s emphasis on stability and continuing disdain for its political opponent is disconnected from the responsibility cast on it for change.

The government appears to be thick-skinned. While Congress’ sham euphoria is jarring, possibly be viewed as a cathartic outpouring after a decade what had begun to seem like its decline. The scores have been counted, there is no need for daily scoring.

Gandhi scion’s speech was a repackaged array of same old school tattered themes of his election campaign: Ranging from the BJP’s alleged peddling of hate and fear to the impairing effect of demonetisation on jobs and the informal economy. His gimmick and so called arguments with the pictures of gods— a day after waving the Constitution was jarring, callous and frowned upon. In short, it was the forgoing of subtlety if not a breakdown of speech.

But those shortcomings and the unbecoming sloganeering during the PM’s speech were some instances which displayed the belligerence and narrow-spiritedness of those who spoke for a government-in denial.

The chaos which was led by the expunging remarks by Rahul Gandhi and the exhortations by the Treasury benches to the Speaker to act against the Opposition, shows that the government is on the back foot and turning its back on the new political reality.

The fact is that the electoral mandate for 2024 has given the hitherto unabated dominant BJP led government an unprecedented re-energised political opposition which will now make sure to checks and balances. The BJP government is unable to give a befitting response, its still navigating its path from pre-4th June to post 4th June.

The first-face off in the House of the People is an opportunity lost by both the side. It may have commenced with a shaky ground, however, this is just the beginning. As the BJP led government proceeds further with its consecutive third term it must shed the role of a vindictive aggressor and a hapless victim of a nexus and an ecosystem anymore. BJP led government must learn to deal with a stronger opposition, and give space to their voices as well, though sometimes they might be cacophonous as well. But as a responsible and a vibrant democracy, the ruling government has to take this onus on itself.

The verdict of 2024 is a chance for the opposition to play a constructive role rather than fulfilling its ulterior motives by making the power tussle personal. The mandate of 2024 has given the Opposition an opportunity to channelise its energy for championing the cause of the citizens and not themselves.

The Opposition should come out of its delusions and see that they are still on the same side of the dias as they were in previous two terms. They must realise that the ruling government is still robust in its resolute and its not a lost cause yet for the BJP led government. Conclusively, there is a lot cut out for both the sides. Both the sides must to respect the boundaries and opinions of each other, rather than making Parliament a field of personal rivalries.