Topic Of The Day:-“Unity And Strength: On The Opposition Rally”
Opposition Parties Need A Cohesive Framework To Be A Viable Alternative To The BJP
It is always easier to agree on the ends than on the means. Opposition parties that came together at the Kolkata rally hosted by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee had a commonality of purpose — defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party. But little else. To share a dais and hold hands is one thing; to share seats and work in tandem is quite another. Even so, for over 20 parties, big and small, some with overlapping support bases, to come together on one platform is in itself remarkable. It is the dominance of the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi beginning with the 2014 Lok Sabha election that has forced these parties to yoke themselves together. Alliancesthat had seemed impossible just a year ago, such as those between the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh, the TDP and the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, and the Congress and the JD(S) in Karnataka now have a settled look. The Trinamool and Ms. Banerjee have also shifted positions to move toward the formation of a national-level alternative to the BJP, giving up the idea of a federal front of regional parties opposed to both the Congress and the BJP. The federal front wasessentially the brainchild of the TRS founder K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who could notcountenance being part of a front that included his principal rival, the Congress. Ms. Banerjee, who seemed warm to the idea initially, was quick to realise such a formation would be unable to mount a serious challenge to the BJP. In terms of optics, the Kolkata rally was a show of strength for Ms. Banerjee. At the same time, it seems to have imparted a fresh impulse to the efforts to put together a viable, if not entirely cohesive, alternative to the BJP.
However, though all these parties are agreed on flushing out the BJP, there is still the issue of reaching agreements at the State level, and arriving at a consensus on a common manifesto of policies and programmes. The SP and the BSP have agreed on seat-sharing but have notaccommodated the Congress; also, negotiations with another ally, the RLD, are yet toconclude. The Congress and the JD(S) are partners in government, but their vote banks overlapgeographically. Seat-sharing is likely to be akin to navigating a minefield. There is also no telling how an alliance between the Congress and the TDP, bitter rivals hitherto, will work on the ground. Besides, the support bases of these parties are varied socio-economically, and without a shared agenda for governance the political unity at the leadership level might be difficult tosustain. Therefore, it was perhaps no surprise that the rally avoided the contentious issue of naming a prime ministerial candidate, leaving the issue to be decided after the election. The Opposition parties may have made a good start, but there is much they need to settle among themselves to mount a serious challenge in 2019.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) hosted
Meaning : act as host at (an event) or for (a television or radio programme).
Synonyms : present
Example : “Canada was asked to host a Commonwealth conference in Ottawa”
2) dominance
Meaning : power and influence over others.
Synonyms : power
Antonyms : impotence
Example : “the worldwide dominance of Hollywood”
3) Alliances
Meaning : a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations.
Synonyms : betrothal
Antonyms : detachment
Example : “a defensive alliance between Australia and New Zealand”
4) alternative
Meaning : (of one or more things) available as another possibility or choice.
Synonyms : different
Antonyms : obligation
Example : “the various alternative methods for resolving disputes”
5) essentially
Meaning : used to emphasize the basic, fundamental, or intrinsic nature of a person or thing.
Synonyms : originally
Antonyms : doubtfully
Example : “essentially, they are amateurs”
6) countenance
Meaning : a person’s face or facial expression.
Synonyms : mien
Antonyms : forbid
Example : “his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away”
7) rival
Meaning : a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity.
Synonyms : competing
Antonyms : assisting
Example : “he has no serious rival for the job”
8) realise
Meaning : become fully aware of (something) as a fact; understand clearly.
Synonyms : grasp
Antonyms : disbelieve
Example : “he realized his mistake at once”
9) imparted
Meaning : make (information) known.
Synonyms : convey
Antonyms : withhold
Example : “the teachers imparted a great deal of knowledge to their pupils”
10) impulse
Meaning : a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act.
Synonyms : desire
Antonyms : concrete
Example : “I had an almost irresistible impulse to giggle”
11) viable
Meaning : capable of working successfully; feasible.
Synonyms : applicable
Antonyms : unfeasible
Example : “the proposed investment was economically viable”
12) cohesive
Meaning : characterized by or causing cohesion.
Synonyms : united
Antonyms : detached
Example : “each parish was formerly a cohesive unit”
13) manifesto
Meaning : a public declaration of policy and aims, especially one issued before an election by a political party or candidate.
Synonyms : notice
Example : “he may fudge key issues in the Labour manifesto”
14) accommodated
Meaning : (of a building or other area) provide lodging or sufficient space for.
Synonyms : contain
Antonyms : reject
Example : “the cottages accommodate up to six people”
15) conclude
Meaning : bring or come to an end.
Synonyms : achieve
Antonyms : begin
Example :”they conclude their study with these words”
16) navigating
Meaning : plan and direct the course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transport, especially by using instruments or maps.
Synonyms : cruise
Antonyms : neglect
Example : “they navigated by the stars”
17) overlap
Meaning : extend over so as to cover partly.
Synonyms : imbricate
Antonyms : divide
Example : “the canopy overlaps the house roof at one end”
18) akin
Meaning : of similar character.
Synonyms : analogous
Antonyms : unalike
Example : “something akin to gratitude overwhelmed her”
19) rivals
Meaning : a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity.
Synonyms : competition
Antonyms : helper
Example : “he has no serious rival for the job”
20) Besides
Meaning : in addition to; apart from.
Synonyms : likewise
Example : “I have no other family besides my parents”
21) contentious
Meaning : causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
Synonyms : combative
Antonyms : agreeable
Example : “a contentious issue”
22) sustain
Meaning : strengthen or support physically or mentally.
Synonyms : assist
Antonyms : harm
Example : “this thought had sustained him throughout the years”
23) perhaps
Meaning : used to express uncertainty or possibility.
Synonyms : perchance
Antonyms : improbably
Example : “perhaps I should have been frank with him”