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Opposition’s INDIA Bloc in tatters

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 11/4/2023 6:09:52 AM

A file photo of INDIA Bloc meeting.

NEW DELHI, Nov 03: The 5-month old alliance of the opposition parties, INDIA, seems to be in tatters, with its major stakeholders' top leaders, including Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechuri, Omar Abdullah and Akhilesh Yadav, all voicing concerns about the problems in the alliance.
The largest opposition party, the Congress, seems taking it slow and preparing to assert itself if it performs well in the Assembly elections in five states later this month while two other major parties, Trinamul Congress and AAP have found themselves in trouble.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his close confidants are under scrutiny by the investigative agencies in the liquor scam, while Mamata Banerjee's party is mired in allegations against her Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, who is accused of asking questions in exchange for money in Parliament.
Mamata is maintaining stoic silence on Mahua as her party leaders say she is opposed to anyone indulging in corruption as seen from the charge on Mahua, letting her fend for herself.
Sources from a couple of alliance partners are concerned over no upcoming meeting of INDIA alliance scheduled, there is a sense that it would have been beneficial to establish a common understanding among the block partners for the upcoming Assembly elections.
However, the public airing of differences between Congress and Samajwadi Party, along with the recent Moitra episode and ED's summons to Kejriwal have shaken the confidence that had been building since the first three meetings in Patna, Bengaluru and Mumbai.
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar last Saturday said the INDIA alliance members might have differences at the state level, there is a feeling that they may contest against each other in the Assembly elections but all must fight the Lok Sabha polls together.
Akhilesh Yadav had recently expressed his unhappiness with the Congress on the seat-sharing issue and the Congress leaders also engaged in verbal duel.
In response to a question about Abdullah's comments on the internal strife within the INDIA bloc as five state assemblies go to polls, Yechuri said the prevailing opinion within it is that the alliance is primarily aimed at the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to ensure that the BJP does not gain control over the state power.
"We wish it could have happened in the states as well. There should have been greater coordination and cooperation in the Assembly polls as it would have been helpful in 2024," Yechuri added.