Abstract
India’s democratic strength lies not just in its electoral machinery but in the balance of power sustained through robust opposition. This article critiques the current state of India’s opposition parties, arguing that they have devolved into a reactive and fragmented entity lacking ideological coherence or a clear public mandate. The ruling party wields expansive institutional power, while the opposition appears directionless—engaging in symbolic disruption rather than strategic engagement. The piece demands accountability not only from those in power but also from those aspiring to replace them. Through detailed policy areas—economy, employment, federalism, and national security—it calls for a revival rooted in clarity, competence, and conviction.
Introduction
Indian democracy stands at a crossroads, teetering on the edge of a precipice. The very fabric of our nation—woven with threads of diversity and unity—is fraying under the weight of polarization. Religion, caste, and majoritarianism are carving deep fissures in our society. In such times, the survival of democracy is not just important; it is existential.
Democracy needs healthy and robust discussion on issues where the ruling party and opposition engage in a battle of ideas, not just rhetoric. Yet, today, the opposition seems like a shadow of its former self—a ship adrift without a compass, unable to navigate the stormy seas of governance pertaining to all parts of the people of the nation without any partisan approach or favours based on majority or minority.
We are following parliamentary democracy, which is based on a very healthy system of accountability of the ruling party and that of opposition parties with a process based on discussions where all are free to deliberate with arguments and counterarguments. The opposition plays a significant, important, and crucial role in safeguarding the strength and essence of the democracy by bringing forward the concerns of the people of the country. We have to ask whether it is happening or we are weakening the strong system enshrined in our constitution.
The Role of Opposition in Parliamentary Democracy
Parliamentary democracy relies on accountability through debate, where parties can deliberate freely with arguments and counterarguments. Opposition plays a pivotal role in this setup: raising the aspirations of people, challenging government excesses, and providing policy alternatives grounded in the Constitution.
But we must ask: has the opposition fulfilled this role, or has it surrendered its constitutional responsibility?
The recent and not-so-recent election results have brought many factors to the fore. People at large have given their verdict in no uncertain words. The recent electoral verdicts have been a resounding rejection of the opposition’s lacklustre performance. The role being played by the opposition has been rejected almost in totality, and they have exonerated the party in power of all the acts of omission and commission.
The Perils of a Weak Opposition
A weak opposition is not just a political inconvenience; it is a democratic disaster. Imagine a watchtower without a guard, a courtroom without a defence lawyer, or a battlefield without a general. That is what a democracy becomes when its opposition is fragmented and feeble.
The government, armed with the machinery of the state, can bulldoze its way through policies and practices, unchecked and unchallenged. Meanwhile, the opposition, embroiled in petty squabbles and devoid of a unified vision, fails to rally the people or hold the government accountable.
The opposition is not only decimated but also is in total disarray. Strong opposition is the hallmark of any democratic setup. The party or coalition of parties in power has to perform by passing laws after deliberation and implement the same without favour or fervour, and the opposition has to checkmate the state by raising aspirations of the people of the nation in the parliament or by protesting on the streets without resorting to violence to press the government to make changes in their operations within the scope of the Constitution.
The ruling party must be strong to safeguard national interests. It has the support of very powerful and strong machinery of the state with them to destroy, dismember, and demolish the opposition. The opposition also has to be as strong as it can muster the strength of the people to stall the state from passing and enforcing damaging and harmful policies and practices and remain united to face the onslaught of the government and that of parties or parties in power.
A weak opposition is far more dangerous and perilous than a weak government. A weak, submissive, and timid opposition can bring doom to the very structure of the democratic system and any subsystems. The opposition plays a crucial role in preserving the true essence of the democracy and raising the concerns of a larger number of people in the country to counter the acts of commission and omission by the party in power. There is no doubt that for sustaining a strong, stable, and healthy democracy in a country like ours with huge diversities, a country needs a strong opposition. Strong opposition is the cornerstone of any democratic system. Its absence imperils the very structure of democracy, transforming it from a dynamic institution into a hollow facade.
Opposition in India, at present, seems to be fragmented and not able to show a united face to take on the state for the deficiencies in performance.
Then what should the opposition do to survive and grow? The opposition must focus not just on challenging the ruling party but also on strengthening its own growth and vision. Growth in a political set means trying to come to power, and for that, elections have to be won by convincing the people that if the mandate or baton has to be passed on to the parties or combination of parties now in, they will be able to perform better than the parties in power. In order to dislodge the party in power at any time, you need a powerful agenda. An agenda has not only to be powerful; it has to be more powerful than that of the party in power. Gathering or pulling crowds is only a very small part of the gamut. The crowd has to be converted to votes.
In order to accomplish the above, a firm and acceptable agenda or plan for action is required. Opposition must have conviction to talk and walk the talk.
Where is the agenda of the opposition?
Nowhere in sight. There has not even been a small tangible movement launched by the so-called opposition for the last many, many years. People have launched movements on their own without any leadership from these political parties. They do not even have a dedicated cadre to support or work on ground level to channelize the mindset of people or even convince the populace towards their agenda.
This periodic rhetoric on actions to oppose the policies or laws passed by the government and rush to the well of the house and stall work is not very productive except for some minor short-term gains. Their actions are only symbolic at most.
The political parties or groups of parties must spell out what they will do if people give the mantle of power to them.
Strength Must Be Matched with Strategy
The ruling party is strong—and must be to safeguard national interest. But strength unchecked leads to imbalance. Opposition, too, must be strong: united, strategic, and grounded in public support. Symbolic resistance, parliamentary theatrics, and crowd-gathering won’t suffice.
An agenda is required—not just a list of grievances, but a roadmap backed by conviction and vision. Where is the think tank? Where are the ground-level cadres? Where is the nationwide movement?
Key Issues Requiring Opposition Clarity
Economy
The opposition is crying hoarse that the Indian economy is in very bad shape and there is no hope of recovery, while the government is informing them emphatically that it is not so and economic recovery is already happening after neutralizing the COVID impact. The government expects India to grow by 7.1%–7.6%–8% in coming years. Vast difference in perception and thinking on both sides. The opposition must spell out their plans to change the economic scene.
Unemployment
This is one of the very daunting issues facing the country presently, and it has reached about 8 percent. Spell out clearly what you will do if you are given the power.
What industries will be reformed? What jobs will be created? How will employability be enhanced?
Privatization of PSUs
The party in power is having the policy of privatization of public sector undertakings, and steps are being taken to implement these policies. What will present opposition parties do when they are elected to power?
Security and Sovereignty
National interest must rise above all. Opposition must articulate their strategy on defense, Indo-Pacific diplomacy, and cyber threats.
Terrorism
This menace of terrorism is plaguing the worldand especially our country.
Concrete counter-terror plans are needed—not slogans or statistics.
Black Money
The opposition must be able to spell out their stand and actions they plan to eradicate or at least reduce the black money accumulated abroad or within the country.
Important points being discussed time and again.
Federalism
Another very important point is being discussed time and again.
The centre-state balance is slipping. Where is the opposition’s federal vision?
Kashmir & China
The government is getting a lot of criticism on these two issues. Spell out clearly the plan of action on these issues. Will you restore Article 370, or what do you plan to do to resolve these points?
Will Article 370 be restored? What’s the roadmap for Ladakh and border tensions?
Poverty, income disparity, and inequality:
The opposition is always blaming the government for the increase of poverty in the country, and also the gap in the incomes of the rich and those not so rich is increasing every day. The life of have-nots is becoming miserable, and making both ends meet is becoming difficult. How will you alleviate poverty? What will your party or group of parties do if you come to power?
Healthcare
Health care isin shambles. There is a shortage of doctors, hospitals, ambulances, testing facilities, and whatnot. Even basic facilities are not available or are out of reach. What will your party or group of parties do if you come to power?
From rural clinics to hospital infrastructure, what’s the plan for transformation?
Education, higher education, migrant workers, drugs, and empowerment of women:
These are some of the other very important burning issues on which the opposition is trying to corner the party/parties in power. They must now tell the nation what they plan to do if the nation hands over power to them.
Way Forward:
Electoral Strategy Must Go Beyond Slogans
Elections require strategic engagement, not just rhetoric. Waves have to be created in your favour, channelizing them in such a way that people of the country come out for voting and vote for you. This is a challenging and uphill task. Opposition can take it up as a project and tell the large population your plan of action. Negativity or spreading negativity will not help; it is counterproductive. Never, never assume that the Janta does not understand or vote with ignorance, as history shows that Indian people have always voted with knowledge and clarity of thought and purpose.
From Protest to Policy
The opposition must rise from the ashes like a phoenix, with a clear and compelling agenda that resonates with the aspirations of the people. It is not enough to criticize the government; they must present a vision for a better future. The opposition cannot afford to remain a passive bystander in the theatre of democracy. It must rise—not as a chorus of dissent, but as a force of transformation. Empty rhetoric and knee-jerk opposition will not win trust; only a clear, actionable vision can mobilize the people. Without a strong opposition, democracy becomes an echo chamber, where power remains unchecked and governance unchallenged.
The time for vague promises and symbolic protests is over. It must step forward with conviction, strategy, and a roadmap for the nation’s future. They must show the people that they are not just an alternative to the ruling party but a superior choice.
India does not need an opposition that simply resists—it needs one that inspires, mobilizes, and takes decisive action. It needs an opposition with a cause, a vision, and the courage to execute it.
Satpal Singh Johar
📧 satpalsingh1944@yahoo.com
#IndianPolitics #OppositionMatters #DemocracyInCrisis #SatpalSinghJohar #PoliticalReform #Unemployment #Federalism #ConstitutionalValues #IndiaSpeaks #VisionForIndia
References
- Yadav, Yogendra—Why Indian Democracy Faces an Existential Crisis, The Wire (2023)—Explores polarization, democratic erosion, and civic disengagement.
- Constitution of India—Articles 75 & 105: Define parliamentary accountability, privileges, and the opposition’s role in ensuring governance through debate.
- Mehta, Pratap Bhanu—Democracy Without Opposition, Indian Express (2021) Argues that unchecked executive power becomes dangerous without opposition as institutional balance.
- Gopalkrishna Gandhi—Democracy’s Edges and Abysses (2020)— Frames the moral and civic responsibility of opposition parties in preserving India’s pluralist spirit.
- Lok Sabha Debates Archive (2019–2024)—Records multiple parliamentary disruptions and unproductive protest-led sessions.
- Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey (2024–2025)—Government projections showing economic recovery, growth estimates ranging from 7.1% to 8%.
- Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Unemployment Report (June 2025)
— Pegs India’s urban and rural unemployment average around 8%, citing sectoral disparities. - Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM)—Outlines active privatization strategy and PSU divestment roadmap.
- Ministry of Defence & Ministry of External Affairs, Annual Reports (2023–2024)—Coverage of Indo-China border issues, Indo-Pacific strategy, and sovereignty challenges.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Post-Demonetization Reports (2017–2023)—Addresses limitations in black money recovery and cash circulation trends.
- 15th Finance Commission, Final Report (2021)—Analysis on Centre-State financial allocations, fiscal decentralization, and state capacity.
- Ministry of Home Affairs: Jammu & Kashmir Status Brief (2024)—Evaluates post-Article 370 developments and law-and-order dynamics in the region.
- World Health Organization—South East Asia Regional Health Systems Review (2023)—Documents gaps in infrastructure, healthcare workforce, and rural medical access.
pointblank0 By Satpal Singh 
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