If politics were just about numbers, India's opposition would be a formidable force ready to storm the citadel of power. But in the brutal arena of Indian democracy, raw seat counts mean little without conviction, cohesion, and a compelling counter-narrative. And, on those crucial fronts, the opposition remains woefully short.

The 18th Lok Sabha serves up a stark irony: the opposition benches hold a substantial 234 seats through the INDIA alliance in a 543-member House, roughly 43 per cent. Add a few independents and others, and non-NDA MPs push closer to 250. This is no insignificant presence. It's numerically stronger than the fragmented opposition Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, or even Indira Gandhi faced during much of their tenures, when no single party often crossed the threshold for official Leader of the Opposition status, and total opposition hovered below a quarter of the House.

Read in Hindi: मोदी के समक्ष जीत का सपना नहीं गढ़ पा रहा है बंटा हुआ विपक्ष…!

Yet, this beefy opposition casts only a faint shadow. It shouts, boycotts, and disrupts proceedings with walkouts and slogans, but it rarely persuades the public or pins down the government with unassailable arguments. The din in Parliament is loud, but the direction? Absent. Placards wave where detailed policy papers should dominate; hashtags trend while homework gathers dust in the forgotten Parliament library. So, why the persistent weakness?

True opposition demands more than seats; it requires an unshakeable mindset of preparation, principle, and persistence. Flash back to Nehru's era: opposition figures like Syama Prasad Mukherjee, HV Kamath, and AK Gopalan were outnumbered but outshone many with their mastery of rules, deep research, and moral authority. Mukherjee framed Kashmir as a profound constitutional issue, not mere sloganeering. Kamath knew the rulebook inside out, commanding respect even in defeat. Gopalan channelled the struggles of the marginalised with quiet force, not theatrics.

Under Shastri, Acharya Kripalani embodied dogged credibility, no caste armies, no social media blitz, just unwavering persistence that wore down power. Indira Gandhi's turbulent times birthed even fiercer warriors: Madhu Limaye's razor-sharp policy dissections, Raj Narain's courtroom battles that toppled thrones, Nath Pai's brave defense of liberties, George Fernandes's defiant underground resistance, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's blend of poetic eloquence and courteous critique, and Ram Manohar Lohia's intellectual backbone, championing non-Congress unity without descending into anarchy, socialism without splintering into sects.

They weren't flawless, but they were profoundly serious, living and breathing Parliament, quoting precedents, studying files, treating democracy as a rigorous daily discipline.

Contrast that legacy with today. The opposition boasts numbers but lacks a unifying national narrative. Burning issues, such as lingering unemployment, stubborn inflation, and agrarian distress, beg for visionary leadership. Instead, we witness spectacles: mass walkouts over sustained debates, viral outrage over vetted positions.

The leadership chasm is glaring. Narendra Modi towers not merely through incumbency but via a potent persona and purpose, weaving nationalism, expansive welfare, and decisive governance into a resonant story of India's ascent. Admire or detest him, he projects a clear, confident vision. The opposition counters with scattered fragments: Rahul Gandhi offers genuine sincerity yet struggles to command pan-India authority. Powerful regional chieftains dominate their turfs but lack the moral gravitas of a Jayaprakash Narayan to rally the nation.

Fragmentation deepens the dysfunction. The INDI Alliance, formed in 2023-24 as a response to Modi, secured those 234 seats but has since frayed badly. Defections, desertions, like Nitish Kumar's flip back to NDA, AAP's formal exit, and inter-party clashes in state polls have eroded its glue. Unity in mere opposition is straightforward; unity around a positive, shared alternative agenda proves elusive. By late 2025, coordination will often be limited to parliamentary tactics, with little joint firepower for upcoming state battles.

Organisationally, the gap yawns wider. The BJP operates as a sophisticated machine with soul: RSS foot soldiers mobilising grassroots, data analytics driving strategy, meticulous booth management. Opposition efforts appear patchwork, hampered by funding shortages, depleted cadres, and improvised campaigns that leave them perennial underdogs in modern electoral warfare.

Narrative dominance tilts decisively to the ruling side. It masters optics, timing, and framing – defining patriotism, shaping dissent discourse, cycling media relentlessly. The opposition responds belatedly, clumsily, decrying "bias" without cultivating credible alternative ecosystems of trust.

Even on welfare delivery – a voter magnet, territory has been surrendered. Flagships like Ujjwala gas connections, Ayushman Bharat health coverage, and direct benefit transfers have forged deep beneficiary loyalty. Opposition voices critique flaws in implementation but seldom unveil bolder, more inclusive, or efficiently designed alternatives that reassure anxious voters.

At the core lies eroded perseverance. Past opposition icons inhabited Parliament – poring over documents, building cases brick by brick, viewing oversight as a sacred duty. Today's often prioritise prime-time soundbites, sensational clips, and identity-driven mobilisation over ideological depth.

A debilitated opposition doesn't merely empower the government; it imperils the republic itself. Unchecked authority inevitably overreaches, eroding institutional balances.

India yearns for an opposition that transcends mere negation, one that boldly proposes transformative ideas, persuasively articulates them, and perseveres through setbacks. An opposition fusing Lohia's fearless courage, Vajpayee's dignified grace, Limaye's analytical precision, and Fernandes's unyielding grit.

Until such renewal emerges, the opposition risks remaining a voluminous crowd sans coherent captain, a raucous chorus minus melody, leaving Narendra Modi and the NDA largely unchallenged.