'2019 Lok Sabha elections will be a "Modi vs India" affair'

Indian elections are based on ideologies and not personalities said key opposition leaders on Friday and stressed that 2019 general elections will be a Modi vs India affair Speaking at the launch of Congress parliamentarian Kapil Sibals new book Shades of Truth A Journey Derailed they said that a very broadbased strategic coalition would be formed in at least 25 states to take on Bharatiya Janata Party BJPled National Democratic Alliance NDA in the 2019 pollsAfter a brief address by former Vice President Hamid Ansari former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government at the Centre Charting the allround failure of the government Singh charged that the country is facing an agrarian crisis economic turmoil and deteriorating ties with neighbouring countriesHe accused the Modi government of ignoring the plight of farmers which has resulted in numerous protests in state capitals as well as the national capital Singh Ansari and Sibal together unveiled the book to a packed house at the Nehru Memorial Museum Library hereThe book launch was followed by a panel discussion participated by Sibal P Chidambaram Sitaram Yechury Chandan Mitra and Sharad Yadav They discussed the prospects of a joint opposition front for the 2019 general elections The panelists agreed that the opposition unity would be vital in the coming elections with Sibal asserting that in at least 25 states a very broadbased strategic coalition would be worked upon to counter the BJPChidambaram recounted that even in 2014 general elections despite the wind in its favour the BJP failed to attract the masses in several states like Punjab West Bengal Kerala and Odisha Sibal also noted that the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar both currently ruled by the NDA would have a decisive role to play in the next electionsOn the question of who will be the prime ministerial candidate of the United Progressive Alliance UPA against Modi all panelists except Chandan Mitra of the Trinamool Congress TMC maintained that a prime ministerial face is not importantYadav recounted a series of elections where a joint coalition had formed the government without declaring their prime ministerial candidate in advance But much water has flown through the Yamuna since the time you are talking about interjected Mitra who recently quit the BJP to join its adversary in West Bengal He said the voters are much more aware today and therefore a prime ministerial candidate is importantMitra maintained that the prime ministerial candidate of the UPA must be from a regional party whose credentials are well established Responding to an audience question Sibal said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that he is ready to take on Modi so there is no question of whether or not he is up for itHe is up for it and he has said that publicly Sibal quipped adding that a prime ministerial face is not important before the elections He recalled that there was a debate before 2014 general elections that the country needs a strong leadership and a prominent face The great leader Modi has given us demonetisation he saidIt will be Modi vs India said Yadav as the panelists nodded in affirmation and loud claps by opposition leaders resonated in the packed hall On their projections for the 2019 general elections the panelists reiterated that the coming together of the opposition parties at the state level would result in their victoryThe attendees included opposition leaders across political parties including Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference Sitaram Yechury of the CPIM former JDU members Sharad Yadav and Pavan Varma TMC member Chanadan Mitra and a host of senior Congress leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge Saman Khurshid and Shashi Tharoor among othersCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever