Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for unity on the anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first deputy prime minister, has provoked a strong reaction from the opposition bloc, Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), led by the Congress. The event, honouring Patel’s role in uniting India’s princely states, highlights the contrasting political narratives between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and its opponents. Sardar Patel, though a key leader of the Congress, was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, by the BJP-led NDA government—not by Congress, despite the party’s legacy in Indian politics. This decision, along with the government’s declaration of Patel’s birthday as ‘Ekta Diwas’ (Unity Day), symbolizes Modi’s alignment with Patel’s legacy of integration and stability. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge responded by suggesting that while leaders like Patel and Mahatma Gandhi worked for unity hailing from the same Gujarat state, Modi’s policies were allegedly divisive, although he offered no specific examples to back this claim. This charge, criticized by some as a “shoot-and-scoot” approach, underscores a deeper discomfort within the opposition toward the current government’s narratives. The historical undertones add complexity to this political divide. Gandhi’s controversial support of partition, as well as his influence on Congress’s initial choice of Jawaharlal Nehru over Patel for India’s first prime minister, have become subjects of scrutiny among certain historians, especially those favouring nationalist perspectives. They argue that Nehru’s policies contributed to a weaker India post-independence, which contrasts sharply with Modi’s stance on India’s security and regional influence.
The Modi government’s efforts in securing India’s borders, notably with recent disengagement agreements with China along the Line of Actual Control, signal a shift towards a more assertive foreign policy. This approach also extends to the government’s stance on Pakistan. India has countered Pakistan’s hostile actions, especially its efforts to disrupt stability in Kashmir. Modi’s strong response to Pakistan has resonated with the NDA’s commitment to national security, a theme that challenges the Congress-led opposition’s stance on foreign and defense policies. On the domestic front, Modi’s administration has faced significant protests on various reforms, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and agricultural reforms. These protests, at times large and intense, have been framed by the NDA as efforts by opposition parties to block progress. Modi’s push for “One Nation, One Poll” and the Uniform Civil Code, two pillars of the BJP’s agenda, also reflects a drive toward creating a unified policy framework across India. These initiatives, if implemented, would alter India’s political landscape, reducing logistical complexities and potentially benefiting the NDA by streamlining national elections and laws.
However, this assertive stance on policy and governance seems to have heightened tensions with the opposition. Modi’s references to “urban naxals” — a term used by his government to describe individuals alleged to disrupt national unity — further underline this rift. The BJP has cited its success in diminishing left-wing extremism, pointing to recent gains in Jharkhand and Odisha, where it hopes to consolidate support. Yet, for the Congress party, led by Kharge, these developments only add to an ongoing struggle for relevance. The Congress faces internal challenges and the shadow of the Nehru-Gandhi family’s influence, as evident in incidents such as the filing of Priyanka Gandhi’s nomination from Wayanad, where Kharge’s role appeared diminished. Such internal frictions weaken the opposition’s unity and impact its response to Modi’s government. While Modi’s call for unity resonates with his base, for the Congress and its allies, it symbolizes the NDA’s strength and their own political challenges. As the NDA continues its pursuit of foundational changes in governance, the opposition’s capacity to counter these narratives may determine their relevance in India’s evolving political landscape. Whether the proposed reforms will see the light of day remains uncertain, but Modi’s government appears determined to press forward, undeterred by opposition criticisms.
