Contradictions in fronts minor now as compared to earlier times: Reddy

Amid talk of parties opposed to the BJP coming together, senior Congress leader S Jaipal Reddy said contradictions in such a broad front are minor in nature, compared to the times of the National Front, United Front and UPA governments.

The former Union Minister said last week's swearing-in of H D Kumaraswamy as the Karnataka chief minister, heading the JDS-Congress government, marked the beginning of coming together of parties opposed to the BJP and it indicates the "shape of things to come."

"In the pre-poll scenario (before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections), most of the people (opposition parties) will come together. Such people who can't come together before the polls, they will come together after the polls," Reddy told PTI here.

He termed the contradictions in such anti-BJP front as "very minor."

"I have dealt with United Front, UPA, then I dealt with National Front... I have experience. I have been a spokesperson for three fronts, I can say contradictions of a new front that will be formed are very minor comparatively," Reddy said.

Asked whether the proposed front has to be led by the Congress, he said, "Congress is the single biggest party. Why bother about it (on who should lead it) now?"

He said the Congress is ready to play the role of junior partner in States where it's no strong.

"Why not? why not? In Uttar Pradesh, we play second fiddle to SP and BSP and also in Bihar. Elsewhere (where the Congress is strong), other parties will play (the role of) junior partners," Reddy observed.

Reddy agreed that in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress and the Left, and in Kerala, the Left and the Congress cannot be seen together before the polls.

"Therefore, for such major contradictions...(one should go for) post-poll alignment," he said.

"Wherever the contradictions are of a major kind, one must go for post-poll arrangement," he said, pointing to Congress party's swift decision to back the JD(S) in Karnataka even when the results were flowing in.

On whether the Congress should project its President Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate, Reddy said, "Where is the question of projection? He is the president of our party. Let there be a front, we shall then see. As far as the Congress party is concerned, Rahul Gandhi is the only leader."

Last week's swearing-in of Kumaraswamy undoubtedly reminded him of the days of United Front and UPA, he said.

"I have handled many of these things (coalitions). I am absolutely confident that it (anti-BJP front) will be too strong for (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi to be able to stop or resist or fight," he said.

On critics pointing to several prime ministerial aspirants among parties in the proposed anti-BJP front, Reddy said, "It's bound to be. It's a democracy. Without some kind of struggle, there cannot be a democratic process."

"Is there any country in the world where there is no power struggle based on ideological issues, personal ambitions?" he asked.

The show of strength by a galaxy of national leaders and regional satraps at the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy as Karnataka Chief Minister on May 23, is being seen as a strong signal to the BJP on the possibility of formation of a broad-based front to take on the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls next year.