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In the INDIA Bloc meeting, Akhilesh Yadav told the Congress leadership that it should show a “large heart” and be more accommodating towards alliance partners.
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and others during a press conference after the INDIA bloc meeting on Monday. (PTI photo)
The Congress came under criticism from several allies during the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on Monday, with leaders urging the party to be more accommodating and improve coordination within the alliance,
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav were among those who spoke candidly about the challenges facing the opposition grouping. Leaders from the CPI(M) and the NCP (SP) also questioned the Congress over its decision to end its long-standing alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu, reports the Indian Expresss. The INDIA bloc held a key meeting in New Delhi on Monday, June 8, which was attended by 23 opposition parties . The meeting was aimed at reviewing strategy, coordinating for the 2029 Lok Sabha election, and presenting a joint opposition line on national issues.
The meeting was attended by senior opposition leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and others.
Akhilesh urges Congress to be more accommodating
Akhilesh told the Congress leadership that it should show a “large heart” and be more accommodating towards alliance partners. He noted that the INDIA bloc meeting was taking place after a long gap and said the alliance should reflect on whether it had acted as effectively as it should have during this period. Akhilesh also remarked that regional parties openly acknowledged their alliance with the Congress, but the Congress itself did not do the same. He criticised the party for breaking its alliance with the DMK, a point later supported by NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule and CPI(M) leader John Brittas.
The DMK, one of the founding members of the INDIA bloc, stayed away from the meeting after making it clear that it would not share space with the Congress.
Akhilesh further suggested that Congress leaders at the state level may not fully understand the seriousness of the political situation. Tejashwi echoed the concern and is learnt to have said that the Congress’s Bihar leadership was “compromised”. The SP chief also said that if JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar had remained within the alliance, the political situation could have been different.
Concerns over coordination and central agencies
Referring to Enforcement Directorate raids on former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Akhilesh argued that alliance partners should support one another whenever central agencies target any member party. Tejashwi backed Akhilesh’s remarks and said he had sought the Congress’s support during the last Rajya Sabha elections but received no response. He also highlighted poor coordination among alliance partners, saying they had ended up contesting against one another in 10 to 15 seats in Bihar.
Mamata calls for unity
Mamata Banerjee spoke about what she described as political atrocities before, during and after the West Bengal Assembly elections. She appealed for unity among opposition parties and suggested that the Congress should take the lead in coordinating alliance activities. Banerjee also urged parties not to criticise one another and called for greater engagement with civil society movements.
Claiming that the Bengal election had been “stolen”, she proposed that an INDIA bloc delegation meet the Election Commission. The proposal did not gain much support and the alliance instead decided to write to the Chief Justice of India regarding alleged electoral irregularities.
Akhilesh defended Mamata, saying those who believed she had lost politically were mistaken.
CPI(M) raises Kerala poll concerns
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas expressed strong dissatisfaction with remarks made by Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, during the Kerala Assembly election campaign. He said the CPI(M) could accept criticism from Congress leaders in Kerala but objected to attacks by national leaders who represented the INDIA bloc as a whole.
Brittas rejected allegations that the Left had any understanding with the BJP and said the CPI(M) did not require anyone’s certificate on secularism. He also criticised the Congress for ending its alliance with the DMK, arguing that pushing the party out of the INDIA bloc was not a positive development.
Uddhav, Omar and others pitch reforms
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who joined virtually, suggested that the alliance should project a common face and remain active beyond election periods. He also questioned why an online phenomenon such as the Cockroach Janta Party had gained public attention and asked whether people had lost faith in traditional opposition parties.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for introspection but urged leaders to remain positive, noting that the opposition had reduced the BJP to a minority government at the Centre. He described the Congress as the glue holding the alliance together and appealed for support on the issue of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti proposed a collective social media presence for the bloc, while Independent MP Kapil Sibal suggested setting up a secretariat, a research team and a panel of spokespersons.
Did Rahul Gandhi accept criticism?
Responding at the end of the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said he accepted all criticism with a smile and assured alliance partners that he would work to keep them united through “love and affection”. He reiterated his view that elections in the country were being rigged. He also clarified that his criticism of Pinarayi Vijayan during the Kerala campaign was not personal and reflected feedback received from state leaders during the election campaign.
What the Opposition discussed?
The INDIA bloc leaders discussed a range of political and governance issues during their meeting in Delhi, including the ongoing electoral-roll revision exercise, allegations of paper leaks and examination irregularities, economic concerns, and what they described as attacks on opposition-ruled state governments. The alliance also deliberated on coordination among member parties ahead of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament and worked on a broader strategy to take on the Modi government.
As part of efforts to improve cooperation, the bloc decided to hold coordination meetings every two months, with the next gathering scheduled to take place in Hyderabad in August.
The meeting assumed significance as it came after recent state election setbacks and amid visible strains within the alliance, particularly involving the DMK, TMC, CPI(M) and AAP. Despite these differences, Congress leaders maintained that the alliance remained united in its diversity.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen…Read More
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