New Delhi: The INDIA bloc, a collective of opposition parties that jointly fought the Lok Sabha polls, is in growing turmoil, with member parties criticising the Congress for its approach towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and some even questioning the relevance of the alliance due to the lack of coordination among allies.
With the Congress and AAP fighting separately in the Delhi assembly polls due on 5 February, most other parties in the alliance have, one after another, in no uncertain terms, made it known that they are supporting Team Kejriwal in this contest.
To make matters worse for the Congress, some of its own leaders are doubting its prospects in the polls.
The Congress finds itself in a pickle over former Maharashtra chief minister and senior leader Prithviraj Chavan’s remarks, made in Mumbai Wednesday, that in the absence of an alliance between the AAP and the Congress, the former was on course to win the Delhi polls.
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Sandeep Dikshit, fielded by the Congress against AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi assembly seat, shot back, advising Chavan to contest on an AAP ticket.
“They have no idea about the situation in Delhi. But if he is so impressed by the AAP, then he might as well contest on an AAP ticket,” Dikshit said.
Chavan sought to clarify on X that his remarks had been interpreted out of context.
“I had said that if INDIA alliance had fought together then its victory would have been assured. Now that all major parties are in the fray, it has become an open election. The Congress party has gained tremendous momentum and I am sure we will emerge victorious,” Chavan posted Thursday.
If that was not enough, two INDIA parties, the National Conference (NC) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have questioned the very existence of the alliance.
With the Congress losing its post-Lok Sabha glow, owing to its defeats in the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly polls, the INDIA bloc has been in the doldrums for some time now.
The non-Congress parties of the alliance have been cornering the principal opposition party over its poor strike rate in direct fights against the BJP.
The only time the alliance displayed some cohesion in the last few months was on the question of bringing a no-confidence motion against Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar over his conduct as chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and on a move to impeach Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Yadav for his controversial remarks against minorities.
While a resounding defeat in Delhi will add to the Congress’s misery, a respectable show will help it gain some leverage in dealing with allies in other states.
Happy with the outpouring of support for the AAP, and snubs to the Congress, Kejriwal posted on X Thursday: “I sincerely thank the INDIA alliance members who have extended their support to the Aam Aadmi Party for the Delhi elections. With your support, we are confident of defeating the BJP in the upcoming elections.”
Speaking to ThePrint, AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said it should not come as a surprise that the non-Congress INDIA parties were rallying behind the AAP.
“Everyone knows that only the AAP is in a position to defeat the BJP in Delhi. That’s why the INDIA parties are supporting us. After all, everyone recognises that the objective of the alliance is to defeat the BJP,” he said.
Also Read: Why Kejriwal has ruled out alliance with Congress in Delhi & how it may affect their poll prospects
Allies question INDIA bloc
Jammu and Kashmir CM and NC vice-president Omar Abdullah Thursday told the media that the INDIA bloc lacked clarity on agenda and leadership.
He was speaking to reporters in Jammu when he said that “no INDIA bloc meeting was being held”.
“It would be nice if a meeting would be called so that we can get clarity. If the alliance was only for parliamentary elections, then we should wind it up, otherwise, if it’s for the assembly elections as well then we need to work together,” he added.
Abdullah was responding to a question on remarks made by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Wednesday that the INDIA bloc had been formed with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing a press conference in Bihar’s Buxar district, when Yadav was asked about the state of the national-level alliance, he said: “You are asking me about the Delhi polls? It was already decided that the INDIA alliance was for Lok Sabha (polls). And in Bihar, we are united from the beginning.”
Tejashwi’s remarks also assume significance in view of assembly polls due in Bihar later this year.
While the RJD has not initiated seat-sharing talks with the Congress yet, leaders of both parties have been sniping at each other, suggesting a rocky path ahead for the stability of the partnership between them.
SP, TMC & Shiv Sena (UBT) cheer for AAP
The Samajwadi Party (SP), whose ties with the Congress have nosedived in the last few months, was the first in throwing its weight behind AAP for the Delhi polls Tuesday, following which Kejriwal thanked SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
“Thank you very much Akhileshji. You always support and stand with us. I and the people of Delhi are grateful for this,” he wrote on X.
According to AAP sources, the party had initially explored the idea of setting aside a few seats for the SP to contest from in Delhi, hoping Yadav would reciprocate the gesture when polls are held in Uttar Pradesh. But eventually, the AAP fielded its own candidates in all 70 assembly constituencies in the national capital.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is also backing the AAP.
“TMC has announced support to AAP in Delhi elections. I am personally grateful to (TMC chief) Mamata Didi. Thank you Didi. You have always supported and blessed us in our good and bad times,” Kejriwal announced on social media Wednesday.
“We have your back,” came the response from TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien.
A TMC MP told ThePrint that Mamata Banerjee, who had last month created a flutter by suggesting that she was ready to pilot the INDIA bloc, has always been clear about the fact that parties positioned to defeat the BJP should lead the bloc in states.
“In Delhi, the AAP is the bigger party. In West Bengal, it is the TMC. Yet, the Congress joined hands with the CPM in election after election to trouble the TMC. The AAP did not contest against us, be it in assembly polls or Lok Sabha polls or municipal polls,” the TMC leader said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has also extended support to the AAP, echoing the line taken by the TMC.
“We have always said the Congress is a big party in the country. The AAP is a big party in Delhi. AAP and Arvind Kejriwal have power in Delhi. AAP is winning the election with a good margin,” Sanjay Raut, MP of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Upper House, told reporters Thursday.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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