Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A fresh divide emerged within the INDIA bloc after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee expressed her readiness to lead the opposition coalition. While the Samajwadi Party supported the idea, calling it a move to strengthen the alliance, the Congress voiced strong opposition. The RJD, on the other hand, credited former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav as the real architect of the coalition.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Udaiveer Singh fully endorsed Banerjee’s suggestion, stating, “If Mamata Banerjee has expressed any desire, the INDIA alliance bloc leaders should consider it and give her support. This will strengthen the alliance.” He highlighted her role in resisting the BJP in Bengal and emphasized the party’s emotional bond with her.
The Congress faced sharp criticism from its allies. Singh took a veiled swipe at the party over recent election losses in Haryana and Maharashtra, arguing that its inability to deliver results in key states requires introspection.
‘Congress Needs to Introspect’
CPI General Secretary D Raja echoed this sentiment, accusing the Congress of sidelining its allies in crucial polls. “Congress needs to introspect. It didn’t accommodate alliance partners in Haryana and Maharashtra, which impacted the results in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections,” he remarked.
Following an initial strong performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the INDIA bloc suffered setbacks in the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly polls, where the Congress played a leading role.
RJD Credits Lalu Prasad Yadav
Meanwhile, the RJD reiterated its support for Lalu Prasad Yadav as the key architect of the INDIA bloc. Party leader Mrityunjay Tiwari credited Yadav with initiating the first opposition alliance meeting in Patna, stating, “Mamata Banerjee fights strongly against the BJP in Bengal, but the real architect of the opposition alliance is Lalu Prasad Yadav. The battle against BJP continues across states.”
Congress Pushes Back
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad dismissed Banerjee’s leadership ambitions, asserting, “Mamata Banerjee thinks so, but we don’t. Her party runs as she says; we work collectively as Congress.”
The divide within the bloc also played out in Parliament during the winter session, with the TMC and Samajwadi Party abstaining from Congress-led protests over the Gautam Adani bribery case.
