In second unity bid, opposition parties to discuss vice presidential candidate on July 11

NEW DELHI: Opposition parties will meet in Delhi next Tuesday in their second attempt to reinforce unity against the NDA regime. The earlier unity bid of 17 Opposition parties for fielding a joint presidential candidate underwent turbulence when JDU pole-vaulted to the BJP court and parties such as NCP, JD(S), SP and BSP delinked from the Congress-Trinamool-RJD-DMK-Left boycott of the Central Hall function for GST roll-out.

Even as the meeting of parliamentary floor leaders of Opposition parties is set to witness Nitish Kumar’s JDU making a return, JDU circles are keen to see Kumar invited for the meeting and perhaps have tea with Rahul Gandhi. Certain quarters have already projected it as the ‘desire’ of the Congress and its vice-president.

The Congress brass, past master at reading subtle messages, is happy with it. The ostensible agenda will be fielding of a joint Opposition candidate for the vice-presidential election. The recent experience may prompt the Congress to broaden discussion on combined action on issues of common concerns such as ‘confrontationist’ governors, cow vigilantism, farmers’ issues, GST-related concern and floor coordination for the monsoon session to provide a larger framework for Opposition.

The meeting may also see proposals for a coordination panel of Opposition leaders for continuing consultations. The Opposition camp knows that the vice-presidential election will be a cake-walk for the NDA given its majority in the electoral college that comprises both Houses of Parliament. Yet it wants to convert the event into another platform for experimenting on Opposition unity. Having seen ‘slippery customers’ NCP, SP, BSP and JDS attend the GST roll-out, the Congress is also cautious.

The Congress knows too well that nurturing Opposition unity is no easy task given the vulnerability of regional parties while facing the heat of the establishment.