In some disheartening news for Lalu Yadav and his supporters, Sonia Gandhi became the second top leader after Mayawati who has decided to skip Lalu’s anti-BJP rally. On 27th August, Lalu has organised a “Desh Bachao, Bhajpa Bhagao” rally in Patna.
According to media reports, even Rahul Gandhi would be unable to attend the rally. Sonia now has nominated Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and CP Joshi to attend the same. The rally in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan was seen as an attempt to forge an alliance of like-minded opposition parties to take on the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Among the leaders who have confirmed their participation are, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and JD(U) rebel, Sharad Yadav.
Lalu while speaking to the media confirmed the absence of Soina and Mayawati while stating that the latter would be sending Satish Mishra to represent her. He also dismissed Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modis appeal to put off the rally in view of the devastating floods in Bihar due to which at least 341 people have died so far.
Lalu reportedly stated that Sushil Modi should not teach him things and asked whether the rally’s postponement would end the floods.
He in the same press conference also reportedly attacked JD(U) spokespersons who were defending Nitish in the ‘Srijan scam’, by calling them Alsatian dogs.
This isn’t the only time the opposition failed to rise above their squabbles to put up a united front. Recently Nitish Kumar who was then a key part of the “Mahagathbandhan” had announced his support for the NDA Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind and later decided to switch sides itself and join the BJP’s alliance.
The opposition has also in the past boycotted possible partners like the AAP whose Supremo Arvind Kejriwal is a bitter critic of PM Modi and could have aided the opposition’s attack on the ruling BJP government.
Only a few days back, BSP had disowned its verified Twitter account after it shared a picture showing opposition unity where Mayawati and Akhilesh were together along with Lalu and Sonia.
