New Delhi (15.03.2022): There is a new narrative emerging in a section of national media that is projecting Delhi chief minister Arwind Kejriwal as the only strong opposition face against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
This narrative is being built in a manner that suggests ‘Narendra Modi fears Arwind Kejriwal. Political experts view it as a gameplan to divide the opposition and ensure smooth passage for the BJP as Kejriwal can never be a ‘strong face’ against Modi in 2024, he may emerge as a ‘hollow face’ against Modi.
Three small issues can put this argument in the right perspective.
First, the combined strength of the national BJP, as well as Delhi state BJP, was unable to contain the former Congress chief minister Sheila Dixit for fifteen years. The BJP was just clueless when pitted in a straight fight against the Sheila Dixit-led Congress. Arwind Kejriwal defeated the Congress in Delhi, and it decimated this party in the Capital. Kejriwal harmed Congress immensely in Delhi and uprooted. Kejriwal could not dent the BJP’s 32 percent vote share of BJP in Delhi. So the BJP has removed the Congress by proxy.
Now, BJP has effectively controlled the Arwind Kejriwal government and administration in Delhi as all the IAS officers are under the direct control of MHA. So the CM Kejriwal, who claims to be strong, is ‘extremely weak and at the mercy of MHA as long as he rules Delhi’. A few days ago, the MCD poll was deferred for eight months. Kejriwal is crying foul play but nobody is listening, he is extremely helpless and clueless.
Second, Kejriwal decimated the Congress in its stronghold Punjab, just like it finished the Congress in Delhi in 2013. This is a huge loss for Congress. BJP was not in a position to snatch power from Congress in Punjab, but it can settle a score with Kejriwal anytime in the future, at some opportune moment.
Third, Kejriwal is suddenly claiming to be a national face against Narendra Modi for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Whether this becomes possible is a different question. If this happens, it will be a huge loss for Congress. The Congress is the nationally accepted face of opposition in India. It has a huge organizational structure to counter the BJP. In case Kejriwal emerges national opposition face, it is a BIG LOSS for the Congress only. Political pundits say Narendra Modi will sweep the 2024 Lok Sabha polls if Arwind Kejriwal emerges as a challenger to Modi. Kejriwal cannot emerge as a national opposition face in a span of two years by 2024.
(By Rakesh Ranjan)
