Congress leader Shashi Tharoor predicted that regardless of their campaign dynamics, opposition parties will unite following the Lok Sabha polls. He emphasised the prospect of a coalition government led by a Prime Minister who prioritises inclusivity and collaboration, symbolised by the acronym I.N.D.I.A. Tharoor suggested that such a government, including the Trinamool Congress, will form after the "day of reckoning" on June 4.
He reassured that a coalition government should not be feared but embraced.
“The growth performance of the Indian economy has been better under such dispensations than under single party governments,” he said, in an interaction with PTI editors.
Tharoor acknowledged the stark differences between a coalition government and a monolithic one-party government, emphasising that the I.N.D.I.A bloc government would operate in a distinct manner. He highlighted Prime Minister Modi's leadership style, the personality cult surrounding him, and the BJP's governance approach as factors that would set this potential government apart. Tharoor expressed confidence that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) would emerge victorious and form the next government.
Shashi Tharoor said, "If you have a coalition government of the I.N.D.I.A bloc, you are going to see, for the first time in a long while, a PM who is first among equals, who has to listen to others, take their point of view into account and who would have to be a good manager."
According to him, the current election is about "change" with the BJP currently lacking control over the narrative. Additionally, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member defended the party's choice not to participate in the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He stated that declining the invitation was appropriate as it primarily served as a political platform to boost Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image. He emphasised that attending would have been a mistake from a political standpoint.
