There can be no second opinion that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, by getting most of the leaders in the Opposition to converge in Kolkata and actively participate in her rally, has proved that she can be a great organiser (Page 1, “Opposition flexes its muscle in Kolkata”, January 20). Now that the ball to remove the BJP has started rolling, it is paramount that the Opposition remains united and chalks out ways and means to achieve this without leaving room for complacency, egos or animosity till the goal is achieved.
Anna Mary Yvonne,
Chennai
One more Gatbandan and anti-Modi gathering arranged by Ms. Banerjee is over. The Opposition has only one agenda — to dethrone Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is unfortunate that even after more than seven decades of independence, most of our politicians are not mature enough to think of the larger picture. Lakhs of people still lack basic facilities and infrastructure, but some in the political class have a different agenda. Every leader is a prime ministerial aspirant. In such a situation, can we expect a stable government and an able leader?
M.R.G. Murthy,
Mysuru
One feels that the massive show of Opposition unity was just a ‘photo-op’. The gathering lacks a common ideology other than a key motive to dethrone Mr. Modi. It seems that the leaders are joining hands to further their own political gains. If at all the Opposition manages to win, who will become the Prime Minister? With many contenders there is bound to be trouble. One also wonders why the Congress president didn’t attend this “historic rally”.
Vidhya B. Ragunath,
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Although Ms. Banerjee has made it a point to clarify that the “PM candidate is not a priority”, it is clear that she has used the occasion to pitch herself as a potential candidate for the country’s top job. While chemistry remains Mr. Modi’s best asset, arithmetic is the Opposition’s weapon, especially if a one-on-one contest materialises. It will be interesting to see if the show of strength at the Brigade Parade Grounds remains one till poll time. As for the Congress, it faces the challenge of making sure that its party president is not pitched into a direct fight with Mr. Modi while also ensuring that his political standing is not diminished.
R. Sivakumar,
Chennai
