Indian Opposition Parties Unite to Form Common Economic Blueprint to Challenge Modi, Reports Reuters

By Nidhi Verma and Devjyot Ghoshal

NEW DELHI – An alliance of regional parties in India is collaborating on a unified economic strategy as a growing opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for the upcoming general election, one of the leaders revealed.

This new initiative is expected to incorporate a significant proposal introduced by the main opposition Congress party, which aims to offer a minimum income to the impoverished if it wins the elections scheduled by May. N. Chandrababu Naidu, a key figure in building this coalition, shared insights during an interview.

The alliance, comprised of 23 parties that gathered for a major rally in Kolkata last month, will prioritize poverty alleviation, agriculture, job creation, and establishing a “minimum income for every family,” according to Naidu.

"Many political parties are reaching a consensus. The farmers’ crisis is paramount, and unemployment remains a critical concern,” Naidu stated. "Our focus must be on the economy.”

Recent polls indicate that Modi’s approval ratings have fallen to record lows amid rising dissatisfaction regarding job opportunities for the youth and struggles within the agricultural sector.

Forecasts also suggest that Modi’s ruling coalition could struggle to maintain a majority in the upcoming elections, potentially paving the way for this coalition of regional parties to gain power.

Nonetheless, uncertainties linger regarding who might lead the opposition unity, and whether the regional parties would support Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, should his party secure a significant number of seats.

"A prime minister will be decided afterwards through consensus," Naidu remarked, dismissing the idea of selecting a figurehead before the elections. "Our primary goal is to win the elections."

As the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu is recognized for implementing policies that attracted major corporations, including Microsoft, to the region. His Telugu Desam Party, one of the largest regional parties in India’s parliament, was part of a coalition with Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party until last March, when Naidu parted ways over funding disagreements concerning Andhra Pradesh.

Since then, he has emerged as a leading architect of this informal alliance aiming to challenge the BJP.

“I’m telling you, anyone would be better than Narendra Modi because he doesn’t listen to anyone,” Naidu expressed. “He lacks a comprehensive approach.”