'Attack on Oppn coalition shows fears of losing power'

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ridiculing 'Mahagatbandhan' (Grand Alliance), the CPI(M) said that the "persistent attack" on the opposition alliance reveals the "real phobia" that he harbors about the prospects of a coalition government replacing his rule.

For Modi to now denounce such coalition governments, it said, is "to condemn his own party’s coalition governments" under A B Vajpayee.

In an editorial 'Modi’s Coalition Phobia' in party mouthpiece People's Democracy, the CPI(M) said not a day passes in Lok Sabha campaign without Modi attacking the opposition alliance as a 'mahamilavat' (great adulteration) and depicting them as a "bunch of power hungry opportunists".

"Such a persistent attack on opposition alliance reveals the real phobia that Modi harbors about the prospects of a coalition government replacing his rule," the editorial said.

As the SP-BSP-RLD alliance "threatens to inflict a decisive defeat" in Uttar Pradesh, the CPI(M) said it has become Modi's "main target" but in his "enthusiasm to attack opposition alliances", he forgets that the NDA consists of 40 parties – a mahagatbandhan if there is one.

Pointing out to Modi's claims that a coalition government would be detrimental to the country, the CPI(M) said coalition governments have been the norm, bar some exceptions, since 1977.

"Contrary to what Modi depicts, coalition governments have provided stable governments and their record on 'development' is not very different from other governments which have all been within the framework of capitalist development. In fact, the Vajpayee-led coalition government of 1999-2004 was held up by the BJP as a model of shining India," it said.

It also reminded Modi of the two governments led by Vajpayee which functioned under a common minimum program that set aside BJP's three core demands, including Ram temple, as well as that of the UPA.

Rubbishing as "absurd" the allegation that Maoist menace surged under non-NDA governments and that his government quelled it, the editorial said, "this falsehood of Modi has been exposed during the current election campaign itself". It referred to the Gadchiroli incident where 15 security men were killed and the Dantewada incident where a BJP MLA and four others were killed.

"We have seen how the unadulterated Modi government has worsened the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir where the number of terrorist attacks increased from 109 to 626 between 2014 and 2019 and the number of security personnel killed increased from 130 to 483," it said.

"So the issue is not whether there is a government with a single party majority or a coalition government. It is a question of what policies and programs are pursued by the government," it added.