Opposition says Modi's attack on their unity efforts reflects 'nervousness'

Some opposition parties led by the Congress today hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his attack on their unity efforts, and said they, unlike the ruling coalition, stood united and would defeat the BJP in the 2019 parliamentary election.

The Congress, Left parties and others attacked the prime minister, saying he is speaking out of "nervousness" and that it is the NDA which is crumbling and not the opposition which stands together.

The remarks came after Modi, in interviews to some media organisations, said that the opposition unity is for "personal survival and not ideological support" and for "personal ambitions" instead of people's aspirations.

Modi also said that 'Mahagathbandhan' is about dynasties and not about development and is purely about power politics rather than people's mandate and it is to be seen whether it breaks before elections or after it.

"The prime minister's statement on breakdown of opposition unity is like 'Mungerilal ke Haseen Sapne' (day-dreaming). The truth is that the entire country has got united against an autocratic and anarchist type present prime minister," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told PTI.

"If a coalition has already crumbled, it is the NDA and not the UPA. 'The House of Cards' is waiting to come down in 2019," he said.

Surjewala said no wonder the BJP's allies such as the Shiv Sena and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have already dumped him and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are making disparaging noises.

To sooth the ruffled feathers of Nitish Kumar, they had to backtrack and yield to the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, he said.

NCP leader Tariq Anwar said the opposition unity would be consolidated further which stands united in its endeavour to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJPI in the next Lok Sabha election.

Asked about the election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, where the opposition candidate lost and the opposition was seen divided, he said, "It will certainly help the opposition to consolidate itself."