NDA vs ‘INDIA’: Why ‘non-aligned’ regional parties may play a key role | India News

NEW DELHI: Tuesday was a day when regional parties took the centrestage as rival alliances – the ruling NDA and the opposition’s ‘INDIA’ – engaged in a mega show of strength in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 63 regional parties were in attendance, 25 in Bengaluru with the opposition camp and 38 in the national capital with the BJP camp.
With renewed focus on regional power, these parties enjoyed the attention and also some pampering on both sides of the political divide. Indeed they have a crucial role to play in the high-stakes national elections next year. But the key to success may not be with them. Ironically, a third group of “non-aligned” regional parties who stayed away from the Tuesday show may end up playing a significant role for both the alliances.

At least 12 regional parties with 91 members in Lok Sabha were not present either in Bengaluru or in the national capital. The parties that stayed away from the Tuesday show of strength include – YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Bahujan Samaj Party, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Janata Dal (Secular), Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and SAD (Mann).

While some of them could be fence-sitters and may eventually join one of the alliances, some others would prefer to chart an independent course, like they have done till now, and keep their options open.
Three of these “neutral” regional parties rule fairly large states – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha – that together send 63 members to Lok Sabha.
Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal, which has been ruling Odisha since 2000, has rejected several overtures from opposition leaders including Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar. The regional party continues to claim that it maintains equal distance from both the Congress and the BJP. This despite the fact that it has bailed out the ruling BJP several times in Rajya Sabha where the saffron party does not have the majority.
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which swept the elections in Andhra Pradesh in 2019, has also supported the BJP on several occasions. However, With Pawan Kalyan’s Jan Sena already in the NDA fold and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu dropping hints of reconciliation, Jaganmohan Reddy may have little options ahead of 2024.
The case of K Chandrashekhar Rao, the chief minister of Telangana, is unique. He was among the first regional leaders to take initiative for an opposition alliance. He changed the name of his party from Telangana Rashtra Samiti to Bharat Rashtra Samithi, travelled to several states to meet opposition leaders, and then he suddenly lost steam.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has announced to go it alone in 2024. The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh has seen her influence dip in the state. In the last assembly elections in the state, her party could win just 1 out of 403 seats. Clearly, she faces an uphill task to stay relevant in UP politics.
In Karnataka, there are strong hints that Janata Dal(Secular) of former PM H D Deve Gowda will join hands with the BJP to stall the Congress, which managed a comprehensive victory over the two parties in the assembly elections.
With Parkash Singh Badal finding a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the NDA meeting, the Shiromani Akali Dal may eventually decide to return to the saffron fold. Though, it may have to agree to play second fiddle to the BJP, which is trying to spread its footprint in Punjab.
Some of these parties have helped the ruling BJP pass crucial legislations in Rajya Sabha where the ruling combine is in a minority.
Their importance in the numbers’ game will be on display in the monsoon session of Parliament itself when the opposition’s ‘INDIA’ takes on the ruling NDA over the Delhi services ordinance. Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party has mustered the support of several opposition parties including the Congress. But will that be enough to defeat the BJP’s ordinance. A lot will depend on what stand some of these independent regional parties take on the floor of the House.
That perhaps sums up the role these “independent” parties may end up playing after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.