BJP, Cong won't form govt in 2019; future of regional parties

New Delhi: As the Modi dispensation nears completion of two years in office, an opposition MP foresees failure of both BJP and Congress in the next Lok Sabha polls as he claimed that the future of regional parties is "bright" and the upcoming assembly elections will be a "litmus test for regionalisation of Indian politics".

"(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's charisma is declining. Congress' acceptability is very low, non-existent... The next government in Delhi in 2019, as I foresee, will not belong to either of the national parties," said Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Tathagata Satpathy.  In this backdrop, 2019 will see a historic election which will make this country politically "more alert and aware", he said.

"The old adage of regional satraps fighting each other for Prime Minitership may not hold good forever... 2019 may throw up a new kind of leadership where mindset of people like Mulayam Singh Yadav would be a thing of the past," he said to a question on the leadership of the front of regional parties.

"My BJD, led by Naveen Patnaik, is a frontal party," he said.

The four-time MP from Dhenkanal in Odisha said the future of regional parties is "bright". "The victory of BJP in 2014 was more because of the defeat of Congress. It was Congress which the people wanted to throw out," he said.

Son of former Odisha Chief Minister, the late Nandini Satpathy, who was in Congress, 59-year-old Satpathy feels India can remain united only if regional parties remain vibrant.

Asserting "regionalism is well and alive", he said the assembly elections in five states and Union territories scheduled in the next two months is a "litmus test" for regionalisation of Indian politics.

"Except for Assam and to a certain extent Kerala, all three other states -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry -- are presently run by governments of the regional parties. I foresee this election to be a litmus test for regionalisation of Indian politics," he said.

India being such a diverse nation, it is only regional parties which can cater to the aspirations of their voters, he said, adding, "Regional parties must focus on local aspirations, development of agriculture and welfare measures... Strengthening these aspects will strengthen regional parties."

Satpathy, the Chief Whip of BJD in Lok Sabha, said in the just-concluded first part of the Budget session of Parliament, regional parties like BJP, TRS, AIADMK and the Left brought "sensibility" in the functioning of the House.

"I noticed regional parties like BJD, TRS, AIADMK and Leftist MPs played a decisive role in this session. Their role was not negative. Neither was it kowtowing with the whims and fancies of the government. These parties bring in sensibility to the functioning of the Lok Sabha," he said.

In an apparent jibe at Congress, he said "non-government parties" did not seem to have "enough" issues to disrupt the House. This implies that the government or its floor managers cannot claim credit for the smooth functioning of the House.

The last two sessions of Parliament were a virtual washout in the wake of a number of issues raised by Congress which has failed to get the Leader of the Opposition status in the Lower House because of being just 44 in the 543-member House.

Satpathy, whose some suggestions in the House were appreciated by the Prime Minister as also a section of the opposition, rued the "unwillingness" of the ruling side to accept good suggestions.

"Sadly, the party in power is unwilling to accept good suggestions. They are very disinterested in involving others in the interest of the country. This exclusivity sought by the ruling party is probably a fault lies in our democratic system.

"Regrettably, our parliamentary system makes the party in power feel that accepting a reasonable amendment made by an opposition member tantamount to a political defeat. Therefore, we repeatedly hear 'the noes have it, the noes have it'. This negativity should be consciously removed from our system," he said.

On the JNU row and the nationalism debate being raised by the ruling party, Satpathy said nationalism for some can be 'Jai Hind' and for others it can be 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

"For me, none of these phrases hold any sanctity I see India as a concept. Love for the country has to boil down to individual behaviour. How I promote good activity in society,

teach my children. Millions of individual action creates a nation. There is nothing spiritual. Civic sense is involved in it so also several other issues like how I lead my life," he said.

Noting that culture creates a nation, he said, "If business or economics alone created a nation, the whole Silk Route we read about in history could have been one country."