Era of United Opposition and coalition politics

Year 1977, Indian politics saw a turning point. Morarji Desai formed the first non-Congress government in Delhi. Then, Year 1989, Rajiv Gandhi suffered one of the biggest electoral collapses. Later, in 2011, West Bengal’s long and powerful Left rule came to an end. Overall, these moments show how a united opposition has often signaled major shifts in India’s political history. But, ironically, national politics has repeatedly nipped the idea of a third front in the bud. Nevertheless, Everyone knows that very well. Can iron-clad ideologist CPM, secular Congress and Hindutva BJP under Suvendu Adhikary form a united opposition in Bengal 2026 election to oust Mamata Banerjee?

Rise of United Opposition

When a ruler’s dictatorship or corruption frustrates people, they stop caring about party, color, or ideology. Besides, they simply want that ruler gone. However, they also look for a trustworthy leader to replace them. Likewise, In 1977, people were fed up with Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi’s authoritarian rule. So, they accepted Jayprakash Narayan’s leadership. Later, Rajiv Gandhi’s Bofors scandal created a strong impact on the public mind. Thus, people trusted V. P. Singh, a politician known for honesty. Interestingly, the Bofors case has still not produced any proven charge against Rajiv Gandhi.

But perception often drives politics.

Despite, CPM with its rock-solid ideology shook hands with BJP in 1989.

Similarly, Mamata Banerjee’s relentless struggle against the CPM, combined with the CPM’s harsh authoritarianism, angered the public. As a result, people chose Mamata as the alternative to teach the CPM a lesson.

Cynical outcome of alliances

From another perspective, a united opposition often creates negative impact for many people. The scenario of  Bengal 2026 election is a different ballgame altogether.  Moreover, Congress-era police brutality killed several Left supporters. Hence, they can never accept such an alliance. Similarly, during Siddhartha Shankar’s tenure, those who suffered extrajudicial killings will also reject this coalition. On the other hand, many CPM cadres forced the Congress supporters to run away from their villages. So, they will not support this alliance either.

Therefore, in some cases, such alliances become deeply negative and emotionally unacceptable. Still, Congress and CPM has developed electoral alliance in West Bengal. But can the BJP join the duo to form a rock solid united opposition for Bengal 2026 election?

Additionally, will CPM and Congress respond to the clarion call of Suvendu Adhikary for “Mamata Bhagao”?

Congress and Mamata Banerjee

The picture becomes even more disturbing when the media shows Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee sitting together in a meeting.  We must remember that just before this, Bayron Biswas, Congress’s only by-poll winner legislative, had switched from Congress to Trinamool. Nonetheless, Suvendu Adhikary was a bit inactive in that bi-election. However, Mamata Banerjee used her sharp political intellect to bypass it in the name of a local issue. However, the mass started laughing silently.

After all, Trinamool itself was born by breaking the Congress. Later, when Suvendu Adhikari, then a rising Trinamool leader, broke the Congress in Malda and Murshidabad and took control, the Congress leadership remained silent. Additionally, Mamata Banerjee’s closeness with Sonia Gandhi is a matter is a talking of discussion.

It is not an easy task for such a Congress to accept Suvendu Adhikary and also BJP keeping in mind of the national political landscape.

Conversely, the same Mamata continued to weaken the Congress using every political tactic like persuasion, pressure, division, and defection. So, when leaders from both parties sit at one table and pose for photographs, it inevitably affects grassroots workers. Even if a united opposition forms under Suvendu Adhikari in the Bengal 2026 election, party leaders will have to struggle to convince their booth-level workers.

Moreover, another accusation persists. Critics also claim Trinamool contested elections in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Goa only to cut votes to empower BJP. So, in the end, politics always remains the art of possibilities.

CPM and its volatile stances

Furthermore, let us talk about the CPM. However, they stormed into the power in several states mainly by opposing the Congress. Their uncompromising fight against Congress-style capitalism once inspired people to dream of an alternative.

In addition, the credibility of the faces like Jyoti Basu, Randive, Geeta Mukherjee could cast a mass impact. Everybody acknowledges their steadfast commitment to ideology also. Their uncompromising ideologies will certainly hinder them to shake hands with Suvendu Adhikary.

However, their present decline has two major causes. Firstly, their organizational weakness. Secondly, their rigid attachment to ideology. Besides, we have often seen their indecision or their unnecessary delay in taking decisions.

Meanwhile, class struggle has become largely irrelevant in today’s India. In contrast, Religion and caste and trapped Indian politics today. Whatever their ideology may be, the CPM still has to function within this India.

There was a time when they ruled three states and dominated the Lok Sabha with almost 60 MPs. That era does not exist any further.  Indeed, to bring social change, they must return to power through democratic means. Conversely, without power, none of their slogans will work.

Therefore, the sooner the CPM accepts this simple truth, the better it will be for them.

We then saw CPM leader Sitaram Yechury and Rahul Gandhi sharing cashews from the same plate.  Naturally, party workers who once suffered violence from both sides will never view this positively.  Hence, these grassroot level cadres cannot accept it.

To make things worse, Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool that broke the CPM in Bengal, is also sitting at the same table. Consequently, what message does this send to grassroots workers? Nonetheless, it only adds insult to injury.

Dual stance of CPM

In Kerala, Congress and CPM fight each other fiercely. But in Bengal, the same parties stand together in an alliance. So, Their relationship changes completely from one end of India to the other. How can such a contradictory and almost laughable position ever work? That is why Narendra Modi, the seasoned politician, remarks, “In Bengal they wrestle, and in Delhi they are friends.”

United Opposition: A face is necessary

Let us return to the topic of alliance politics. Rather, the let us analyze the possibility of the formation of a United Opposition in Bengal 2026 Election. History shows that every alliance needs one credible face. But does West Bengal today have an honest, experienced, and firm leader like Jayaprakash Narayan or Vishwanath Pratap Singh? The answer is no, absolutely not.

A united opposition is the need of the hour. However, such a coalition also requires a leader who can command authority. So, the question is: Who will be that face in Bengal 2026 election?

Suvendu Adhikari repeatedly calls for an alliance. But the turncoat politician, Suvendu Adhikary, once broke the Congress in Bengal as Mamata Banerjee’s key commander. So, his acceptability remains doubtful. He is undoubtedly hardworking. He travels across Bengal tirelessly. Even then, BJP’s internal conflicts make it unlikely that everyone will accept him as the leader.

On top of this, the BJP has not brought any state-level leader to the forefront at pre-electoral stage in recent years. This is part of their central policy. Can BJP change its principle in Bengal 2026 Election?

For the Congress, it is difficult to accept someone who destroyed their traditional strongholds. For the CPM, it is equally difficult. They have attacked him day and night and even pushed the “BijeMool” narrative. So, they, too, will find it difficult to accept him.

Therefore, it is still uncertain whether a united opposition alliance is truly possible in Bengal. Whether CPM can accept the “Hindu Bachao” slogan of Suvendu Adhikary. At this point, only a strong plebiscitary call to Save Bengal may unite everyone enough to thwart Mamata Banerjee.

FAQ

Has United Opposition alliances ever formed Government in India?

Yes. Janata Dal came under power in 1977 under the United Opposition alliances. The Oppositions united to thwart the autocracy of Indira Gandhi. Again in 1989, V P Singh stormed into the power with United Opposition Alliances.

Has United Opposition alliances ever formed Government in West Bengal?

Yes.  The United Opposition alliances ruled West Bengal from 1967-1970. The Chief Minister was Ajay Mukherjee and the Deputy Chief Minister was Jyoti Basu. Later, Left front coalition has ruled West Bengal from 1977 to 2011.

Has BJP ever formed electoral alliance with CPM?

Yes. In 1989, The CPM-led left front formed electoral alliance with BJP under the leadership of V. P. Singh, but both had extended Outside support to the Government without direct participation.

What are the key problems when PAN India party form electoral alliance with Regional Parties?

The Problem Remains that the regional parties often go for negotiation for their own regions, where the national interest goes to the backseat. We have seen Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar and Mamata Banerjee as Railway Ministers to bring new projects for their states by negotiating with the PAN India parties.

Why are CPM and Congress fighting against both BJP and Trinamool Congress?

They are convinced that there are some internal equations have been set up between the BJP and Trinamool Congress. They show that ED or CBI never completes any case and never touch the top notch leaders in West Bengal. In Contrast, they had arrested Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren. Moreover, Trinamool Congress MPs have saved BJP during some bills either by abstaining or without voting. Whatsoever, we can watch people are switching between these two parties very often. Even Suvendu Adhikary hailed from Trinamool Congress. So, CPM refrains from any electoral alliance with BJP in Bengal 2026 election.