The Opposition’s internal fault lines were laid bare on Monday, with several parties openly taking aim at the Congress over its leadership of the INDIA bloc during the meeting in New Delhi.
Sources told India Today TV that several constituents of the INDIA bloc raised concerns over a lack of coordination and alleged instances of name-calling by Congress leaders during election campaigns.
The criticism was reportedly first flagged by Akhilesh Yadav, after which other leaders, particularly from Left parties, echoed similar concerns. Some leaders also questioned the effectiveness of holding meetings only once a year, calling for more regular consultations.
In response, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that while the alliance remains united at the national level, he also has to take into account feedback from state unit leaders on local political conditions during election campaigns.
PARTIES DISCUSS CJP’S RISE
The meeting also discussed the rise of the Cockroach Janta Party, with several leaders stating that the movement should be supported as it is raising issues that are resonating with the public.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray praised party founder Abhijit Dipke’s Marathi roots and added that while there is space for dissent, it is now being filled by the CJP.
In fact, the CJP had on Sunday demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak and CBSE examination row.
INDIA BLOC LEADERS MEET IN NEW DELHI
Earlier in the day, leaders of 25 Opposition parties met in New Delhi to discuss a united strategy to take on the BJP-led government over several political and economic issues, ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Senior Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, attended the meeting.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that all leaders expressed their views freely, while Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and JMM leader Hemant Soren joined the meeting virtually.
OPPOSITION UPS THE ANTE
The Opposition bloc decided that it would meet every two months, with the next meeting scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in August, though the exact date will be finalised later.
Kharge said the INDIA bloc leaders would continue to meet for coordination during the Monsoon Session.
The INDIA bloc also decided to send a letter to the Chief Justice of India regarding alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls, besides demanding the immediate resignation of the Education Minister over the NEET paper leak and CBSE exam controversy.
The Congress president said the leaders also demanded that the Union government convene an all-party meeting to discuss the “precarious” economic situation in the country, along with unemployment, price rise, farmers’ issues, and concerns of marginalised sections of society.
NOTABLE ABSENCES
Notably, the DMK and AAP did not attend the meeting, citing differences with the Congress.
The DMK decided to skip the meeting after the Congress backed actor Vijay’s TVK in forming the government in Tamil Nadu. The move triggered sharp reactions from DMK leaders, who publicly accused the Congress of “betraying” and abandoning a decades-old partnership for political expediency.
While the AAP is formally a member of the alliance, it is locked in an electoral battle with the Congress in Punjab, which goes to polls in 2027.
The meeting marked the first official gathering of the INDIA bloc since June 2024, when alliance leaders last met ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. It came at a time when the Opposition alliance is facing shifting political dynamics following recent state election results.
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