Congress organisational structure no match for BJP-RSS s: Chidambaram

Kolkata March 18 (IANS) Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday said the Congress organisational structure is no match to that of the BJP-RSS combine which in turn could not match the party set-up of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the AIADMK.

Today what is absolutely clear is that the Congress s organisational structure is no match to the BJP-RSS s organisational structure. They are able to turn out the vote and pull in the vote much stronger.

But if the BJP-RSS s organisational structure tries to match its wit against the TMC s organisational structure in Bengal or against AIADMK in Tamil Nadu they will lose he said.

Chidambaram also dismissed as bizarre the conclusion that a vote in Uttar Pradesh is a vote for demonetisation.

A national election in India is a collection of 29 elections (in states). Elections are contextual. They are decided by the situation in that state. People say that a vote in Uttar Pradesh is a vote for demonetisation. By the same logic a vote in Punjab is a vote against demonetisation. That s a bizarre conclusion he said.

The task is 29 times harder for us to devise a strategy that fits in every state. I have told my leadership you need to sit down now and work out 29 strategies to fight a national election he said.

The veteran leader also underscored that the democratic process in India is not mature enough.

If we still have to go on hunger strike to show opposition to our own government that shows this democracy still has to mature. Why is our democracy not allowing true opposition in a form other than a hunger strike or street protest? It is because people fear if I say something against the government I may be in trouble that fear must go he said.

Today the space for opposition is shrinking... Dalits... minorities... NGOs... all live in fear he said.

About the TMC he said jokingly addressing Trinamool MP Derek O Brien: You are a state party... you have a minor presence in Tripura... we are a national party.

Chidambaram was participating in a freewheeling conversation with O Brien on What it means to be fearless in opposition.

--IANS
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