NEW DELHI: Amid growing concerns over unity of opposition INDIA bloc in the wake of BJP’s political victories, a push from a section that it should revive its sense of purpose as during 2024 Lok Sabha elections is meeting with strong roadblocks. The main hurdle in getting the alliance together to convey a joint resolve is said to be the coming elections which will see INDIA bloc parties take on each other as rivals.
Congress sources said while there is no view against an INDIA bloc meeting, there is no agenda at hand to hold one either, while coordination between the allies in Parliament is going well, as witnessed during the last two sessions. “If any immediate agenda crops up, there can be a get together, but presently there is none,” sources said.
However, sources in non-Congress alliance parties said three elections lined up in 2026 and 2027, for which preparations have started, are creating complications, and political dissonance among allies will only get shriller with time. “They have made the situation complex for greater show of unity and purpose,” an INDIA bloc member said.
Assembly elections in Bengal are scheduled for early 2026, followed by those in Kerala in mid-2026, and in Punjab in early 2027. If an alliance does not fructify between TMC and Congress in Bengal, the state battle will have three allies, including Left, fighting against each other. It was Congress and Left which contested as a marginal bloc against TMC in 2021, while TMC and BJP slugged it out as the main players.
Besides, Congress and AAP will be main opponents in AAP-governed Punjab, continuing the face-off between the two in the Delhi elections in Feb, which BJP won. Then, Congress and Left will be the main rivals in Left-ruled Kerala.
While Congress, CPM-led Left and TMC faced-off against each other in Lok Sabha polls too, AAP had tied up with Congress. Many believe holding a joint political show at this moment will undercut their posturing as fierce rivals on their home turfs. “It is the reason why I feel it would be difficult to hold an INDIA meeting,” an opposition member said.
The opposition platform, cobbled ahead of Lok Sabha polls, came together seamlessly and ensured a state-wise seat-sharing formula that helped the allies challenge BJP and perform better than expected in the polarisation-propelled contest.
But the bloc has since lost its unity, with allies sparring politically, and also fighting against each other in elections, as was the case in Haryana and Maharashtra polls. Renewed BJP upsurge has led to many opposition parties emphasising the need to bring about fresh cohesion in INDIA bloc.