From Inflation to Institutions: Why the Opposition Is Missing the Real Battle
In a democracy, both the ruling party and the opposition are equally important pillars of the system. Democracy does not function merely through the strength of the government; it survives through the balance created by a strong and effective opposition. But over the past few years in India, many ordinary citizens have begun to feel that this balance is slowly disappearing.
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s electoral chariot appear to be moving from one state to another with increasing force, almost like a modern political Ashwamedha Yagna, conquering fort after fort of regional and national political parties. From the perspective of democracy, this raises an important question: Is the opposition truly playing its role?
India’s opposition is not weak on paper. Parties like the Indian National Congress and the INDIA alliance collectively represent millions of voters. Yet despite having issues that directly affect ordinary people, they repeatedly fail to convert public dissatisfaction into political momentum.
And this is where many common citizens begin to feel disconnected from the opposition.
Issues Exist — But Why Are They Not Being Picked Up?
Inflation continues to trouble households. LPG cylinder prices have risen repeatedly. Petrol and diesel prices remain high. Unemployment continues to worry millions of youth. These are not temporary issues; these are daily-life struggles faced by ordinary Indians.
Yet, many citizens feel that the opposition is not consistently building its politics around these bread-and-butter issues.
Ironically, people still remember the days when BJP leaders themselves would arrive near Parliament in bullock carts to protest fuel price hikes. A ₹1 or ₹2 increase in petrol prices would trigger nationwide protests. If LPG cylinder prices increased by ₹5, BJP leaders would carry gas cylinders on their shoulders, hold demonstrations, sing slogans, and create political pressure on the government.
Back then, unemployment, inflation, and public hardship were projected as central political issues.
But today, many feel that the opposition has shifted its focus elsewhere.
The Opposition Appears Distracted
Instead of aggressively mobilizing around everyday public concerns, the opposition often appears consumed by debates around agencies like the ED, constitutional institutions, the judiciary, the Election Commission, or corporate figures such as Adani and Ambani.
Now, to be clear — these issues are important in a democracy. Questions around institutional independence and constitutional integrity do matter.
At the same time, the Opposition’s arguments on institutions like the Election Commission and voter revision exercises also face factual contradictions. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is not a new or Bengal-specific exercise; similar voter roll revisions have previously taken place across multiple states under the same constitutional framework. Data also shows that BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh witnessed deletion percentages comparable to or higher than opposition-ruled states.
But the larger political question remains:
How much do these issues emotionally connect with an ordinary citizen struggling to pay fuel bills, school fees, electricity charges, or searching for employment?
If the ED raids a minister, how deeply does that affect a daily wage worker?
If constitutional debates dominate television studios, does that immediately resonate with a farmer worried about crop prices?
If industrialists are constantly targeted politically, how does the common person interpret it when those same industries provide employment to lakhs of people?
These are uncomfortable but important questions.
Is the Opposition Fighting the Government — Or Fighting Itself?
At times, it almost appears as if the opposition is not opposing the ruling party effectively, but instead getting trapped in its own narrative battles.
And perhaps that is why one political fortress after another continues to fall, while the BJP’s victory chariot keeps accelerating.
Another contradiction that ordinary voters notice is selective outrage. When opposition parties lose elections, questions are raised over EVMs and the Election Commission. But when the same parties win elections in states, those questions suddenly disappear.
To many citizens, this inconsistency weakens credibility.
Democracy Needs a Strong Opposition
A democracy cannot remain healthy indefinitely without a capable opposition. A strong government is important, but a strong opposition is equally necessary to maintain accountability, debate, and balance.
However, repeatedly attacking democratic institutions themselves can also become dangerous if done without public trust and clear evidence. Constantly questioning every institution risks creating public fatigue rather than public support.
As a well-wisher of democracy and as an ordinary Indian citizen, the appeal to opposition parties is simple:
Reconnect with the people.
Raise issues that directly affect ordinary lives — inflation, employment, education, healthcare, fuel prices, agriculture, business opportunities, and the aspirations of youth.
Because the moment the opposition begins speaking the language of the common citizen again, the possibility may emerge for it to move from the opposition benches back toward power.
And perhaps that is what Indian democracy truly needs — not a weak opposition, but a relevant one.