CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has emphasised the need for first creating a political narrative against the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead of focusing on a national mahagathbandhan and sharing of seats.
Speaking exclusively to NC24X7, he said, “what is important is the narrative. A political narrative has to be built. So that is why the Mahagathbandhan, who will fight for what seats, etc. in my opinion, is secondary. That will happen in the Assembly elections. And that will happen more in the local body elections. But when you have the national picture in mind, that arithmetic will follow; once the narrative in built.”
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“The point is what needs to be built, is a political narrative against Modi — against this government. That is what was built in the leading up to the 2004 elections against the (Atal Behari) Vajpayee government. Now, Shri Chandrababu Naidu has come here, and what I told him and told most of the other (opposition) leaders with whom I’ve spoken to is: First, get together and create a political narrative — why replacing this government is necessary for the country and the people,” he explained.
Explaining his point further, Yechury added, “It’s not a question of alliances. And politics, remember, is not arithmetic. Two plus two in arithmetic would be four. Two and two in politics — you keep them together — it could be twenty two or it could be zero. So politics is a different ballgame than arithmetic. And it all depends on the narrative you create.”
“The special thing I told Mr. Chandrababu Naidu yesterday; and he agreed with me: Remember the narrative we created in 1996? We formed the United Front post-election. That is when the historical blunder you were talking of… And Mr. Chandrababu Naidu was the convenor of that United Front formed post-election. In 2004, the UPA was formed post-election,” CPI-M General Secretary told NC24X7.
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