Letter to BS: JD(S)-Congress combine should get the first opportunity

As Trinamool Congress Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has put it, had the Congress and the JD(S) done a pre-poll alliance, they would have easily got a majority of the seats

This refers to “Three Karnataka lessons for national politics” (May 16). Shekhar Gupta’s analysis is completely right. I completely agree with him that if 2019 becomes Narendra Modi versus any one propped up by a united Opposition, it will be a cakewalk for Modi as there is no other leader in any party who can match his charisma or stature. While Congress President Rahul Gandhi recently said he is ready to become Prime Minister, after four days his party surrendered to Janata Dal (Secular) and agreed to let the latter choose the chief minister despite having 41 more seats. Will