MK Stalin's Rahul Gandhi for PM proposal leads to a cracked Opposition

Congress' efforts to showcase unity in the making of a 'Grand Alliance' to take on the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha polls lost some of its sheen on Monday as key opposition leaders such as BSP chief Mayawati, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav gave a slip to the oath-taking ceremonies of chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The Congress, however, downplayed the absence.

The absence of the three leaders just a day after DMK chief MK Stalin proposed Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate of an 'united Opposition', is being read by many as maintaining a tactical distance. Some are seeing it as move by the Congress to test the waters after tasting victory in three prominent Hindi heartland states.

Just a day ago, DMK chief Stalin, in the presence of several opposition leaders in Chennai, including Rahul, had said, "I propose the candidature of Rahul Gandhi from Tamil Nadu… I appeal all my party leaders, we will strengthen the hands of Rahul Gandhi. We will save this nation."

On Monday, several opposition parties, including Trinamool Congress, NCP and CPI (M) described Stalin's statement as a premature declaration and that the decision should be taken only after the results of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Many maintain that such a step would lay the trap of making the 2019 elections akin to a presidential one in the United States — Narendra Modi versus Rahul — giving an advantage to the BJP.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, we learn from our country's history. A formation that forms an alternative government at the centre comes into existence only post-election," said Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary.

Though NCP chief Sharad Pawar was present during the oath-taking ceremony, its national spokesperson, Nawab Malik, said, "The Congress itself has declared that the PM will be decided after the results. When Congress and other like-minded parties themselves have talked about it, there is no point in debating the issue now."

A TMC leader too said that any decision on the PM candidate should be taken only after Lok Sabha results. "Any announcement on the PM candidate right now would be premature as it would divide the Opposition camp," he said. CPI leader D Raja said the issue needs to be debated as there is a need for a consensus.

Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, however, downplayed the absence and said Mayawati was suffering from a sprain and Akhilesh was preoccupied, but both supported him to form the government.

DECISION PREMATURE

On Monday, several opposition parties, including Trinamool Congress, NCP and CPI(M) described MK Stalin’s statement that Rahul be the prime-ministerial candidate as a premature declaration. Many maintain that such a step would lay the trap of making the 2019 elections akin to a presidential one in the United States -- Narendra Modi versus Rahul Gandhi