Change is Never Easy, Only Necessary

Put simply, the most patriotic duty of The Opposition is to oppose and question, as overall governance deliverables improve, when political adversaries spar. Those who think otherwise, believe in autocracy.

The idea of one ostensible 'nationalist' party with an Opposition-mukht India is simplistic and seductive, but fraught with incalculable consequences. Multi-identity India should never be reduced to a singular political denomination, even if it has majoritarian support.

The Bhartiya Samvidhana i.e., Indian Constitution should always have supremacy over parliamentary supremacy. This sacred book is freighted with words like Secular, Democratic, Equality, Liberty, Justice, Fraternity amongst others, the applicability of which ought to be afforded onto all citizenry, even those who did not vote the ruling dispensation.

With all its missteps, inefficiencies and derelictions, post-Independence India made forward movements, aided by governments from varied partisan denominations, persuasions and coalitions. The role and conduct of the Opposition, be it from the BJP, Congress, Left, Regional Parties or collectively from coalitions like the NDA or the UPA, had been invaluable to keep the successive governments on their toes and remain accountable to all citizens.

Historically, in India's experiment in democracy, the topical opposition parties have made supreme contribution by playing a 'loud' (importantly so) role as Opposition, and not as submissions. It was one of this type of brilliant counterforce of the opposition that had ended the inexplicable era of inaction, corruption taints, and lethargy in the period of 2012-2014.

But has the Opposition retained its noisy relevance and ability to question, post-2014? Short answer, No. It has in fact deteriorated to levels of inaudibility, disarray, and sheer incoherence.

Powerfully populist narrative that appeals to carefully manufactured insecurities and fears has empowered the dispensation to such an extent that to 'question' the government is now akin to questioning the country. To bravely oppose or question the actions of the dispensation is to put yourself up to the wrath of troll-armies, slander and so much more. The Opposition is virtually decimated, and a default single-party reign looms.

All dispensations do whatever suits their partisan agenda, even at the cost to the nation in the long run. All parties and coalitions have done so, without exception. And if the current dispensation remains effectively unquestioned or unopposed, the blame is less on the government itself, and more so on the failure of the Opposition parties.

An honest introspection would suggest that the Opposition leadership does not offer a credible national 'alternative'. Something is terribly amiss with their style, content, positioning and means of communication. It is simply not cutting ice and doing 'more of the same' is not going to change the status, in anything, it will accelerate the slide to irrelevance.

As perhaps many within the Opposition ranks realise the issue and seek 'change' or meaningful introspection. And if that is denied, then jumping ships (ideology be damned), is the default inevitability. A cursory look at the last few years of opposition status would confirm this, aided immeasurably with a potent combination of amoral 'carrot-and-stick' deployed by the ruling dispensation.

Still, the blame must rest on the Opposition to fail the situation (opportunity?) and play the necessary role of Opposition and a credible 'alternative', in the future. They are not even in the consideration set, for the vast majority.

It's a classic trap of a down-in-the-dumps Opposition suffering from an ostrich syndrome, which refuses to 'change', and therefore prolonging the morass and enfeebling itself, even further. Any cosmetic or optical change which essentially retains the age-old power structures, spiel and appeal of the past is doomed.

A visibilised break from the 'past' (not in terms of fundamental values or objectives) is the only hope for a revival. Citizens should not be allowed to believe the TINA (There Is No Alternative) factor.

Many decades back in the United Kingdom in a similar parallel, the Labour Party was under the rather lackluster, fumbling and forgettable tenure of Harold Wilson/James Callaghan, and it was routed by Margaret Thatcher's cleverly crafted appeal through the Conservative Party.

The Labour lost not one, but four successive General Elections i.e., Conservatives ruled from 1979-1997. Despite the Iron Lady's era of hard Thatcherism which had many detractors, the Labour recurrently failed to seize the opportunity or inspire an 'alternative' appeal. In a virtual parallel to the current Indian reality, the unsaid TINA factor, possibly prevailed.

Margaret Thatcher had successfully weaponised bigotry from the cold, as part of her electoral appeal. Her infamously racist comment that tantamount to fearmongering had appealed to many that, "people are really rather afraid that this country might be swamped by people with a different culture".

Yet, the Labour Party kept grappling for political resonance with its tired and repetitive packaging of 'sameness'. Something had to change, and it had to change drastically, fundamentally, structurally and convincingly – the meaningless cosmetics changes that convinced no one, just had to stop, and did so after almost a decade and half of twiddling the thumb with the 'sameness'.

Soon, a New Labour Party was conceptualised and posited from the stodginess of the 'sameness'. It had a refreshed branding, new thinking, reformed positioning, brilliant communication campaign, and above all, leadership of Tony Blair.

There was a clear departure from the 'past' (again, not so much in terms of fundamental values or basic ideology – but of packaging, presentation and fronting of the same). The perception bar for the Labour Party moved from traditional- to-modern, from a party of the past to a party of tomorrow.

The rote Labour line was replaced by snazzy spin-doctoring by professionals like Peter Mandelson and Alastair Campbell with catchy soundbites. So much so, that amongst the two principal architects of New Labour Party i.e Tony Blair and his more senior, Gordon Brown.

The latter made way for a decidedly more telegenic, free-flowing and appealing Tony Blair, it was necessary to do so. If audio-visuals mattered in the 90's, then they are certainly more important in the digital world of 2022!

The Labour revival process was started with the honest acknowledgement that brand 'Labour' had atrophied and was subject to much lampooning and ridicule (even if unjustified), that ultimately lacked conviction and integrity. The traditional powers-that-be within the Labour ranks had not just stayed 'neutral' to the change, but also supported the new direction of change, even if that meant that a new power configuration emerged, within the Labour.

Not only did New Labour inflict the biggest Conservative defeat since 1906, but Tony Blair became the youngest and longest serving Prime Minister (1997-2007), who won three successive General Elections! The 'change' had been key.

Though, later it was Labour's internal wrangling between factions, a much more charming and brighter opponent in David Cameron (at least till then) and above all, the reneging from the modernist spirit of New Labour and deciding to go back to its traditional ways, did the Conservatives return.

By 2010, the self-described 'future', David Cameron, became the youngest occupant of 10 Downing Street, and it has been 12 years since, Labour is still out of power. This despite Brexit, Covid mismanagement, economic downturns and the questionable tenures of subsequent Prime Minister's like Theresa May, Boris Johnson and the latest disaster, Elizabeth Truss.

Labour till date is struggling to find the necessary vigour, vitality and honesty to accept, change and redefine itself, as it had done with the New Labour movement.

The parallels with the Indian narrative and of its principal Opposition party (especially the Congress) are unmistakable and obvious. With an impending leadership race at stake, there are two candidates within the Congress with very different moorings, suggestions and implications – which way will the dice roll is for its electoral rolls to decide.

But 'change' is never easy, only necessary. Beyond partisan politics and preferences, it is absolutely vital for the nation to have a working, efficient and meaningful Opposition that it has been denied of, for too long.

Only and only from that perspective one hopes for a meaningful 'change', but for that, courage, sacrifice and supreme commitment for full reform and not to hold on to the last and desperate clutches of straws is required. Sadly, it seems highly unlikely.

Lt General Bhopinder Singh (Retd) is a former Governor Pondicherry and Andaman&Nicobar Islands.