After Uttarakhand, Arunachal verdict damages BJP and Modi

Similarities to Uttarakhand

Two months ago, the BJP faced similar embarrassment in Uttarakhand. In both cases, the Congress-led government was removed from power, and the BJP played a key role in destablising both governments by actively supporting Congress dissidents.

Modi's ministers and senior party leaders had been active in these states, with the attempt being to make them 'Congress-free'. Managers and close aides of Shah were deputed in these states to make the state governments fall. Sting operations and protests within Assembly premises were used to malign the Congress's image.

But court intervention in both these states has boomeranged in the BJP and the Central government's faces.

Impact on Parliament

Now, when Parliament convenes for the monsoon session next Monday, the Modi government will face the heat for its conduct in both the houses.

"Modi's commitment to cooperative federalism has fallen flat. The BJP was never a party which did such things in states. In fact, we always fought against it. Now, this is a big embarrassment for the party, both inside Parliament and outside it as well," a BJP leader told Catch.

Congress, indeed, will find more friends in Parliament when the session starts. Senior party leader Kapil Sibal has already said that the party is going to seek accountability and apologies from ministers who were piloting these conspiracies.

He also demanded that the tapes and audio records, allegedly containing conversations between BJP leaders and a businessman, should also be investigated. Sibal said the Congress had already submitted those tapes in court.

There's no doubt that the SC order will set the tone for the monsoon session. Parties that are in power in non-BJP ruled states are expected to join the Congress-led chorus.

Assam gains lost

For the BJP, the gains made by forming its maiden government in Assam have been overshadowed by the losses that the Arunachal case have brought.

Party leaders and cabinet ministers like Arun Jaitley, who had briefed the media about the gains made in these states, will be particularly under fire in Parliament now.

BJP's dream of a Congress-mukt Bharat has suffered a huge setback. The monsoon session is likely to further darken the clouds hovering over the Modi government.

Edited by Shreyas Sharma

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