Tensions are escalating within the INDIA bloc as cracks appear over seat sharing, raising doubts about the alliance’s longevity beyond the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and its participation in upcoming state elections as traditional rivals.
A recent dispute between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP) has put the Congress in a difficult position regarding seat-sharing for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly election scheduled for November 2023. Akhilesh Yadav insists on following the alliance rule book, while Congress believes that SP should not contest in areas where it lacks a strong voter base.
The conflict reached a tipping point when Congress announced candidates for four seats in Madhya Pradesh, where the SP had already declared its contenders. This move underscored the emerging divisions within the alliance.
Akhilesh Yadav accused Congress of betrayal, stating, “We were assured six seats. If there’s no alliance in Madhya Pradesh, why did we discuss with Congress? Who will trust them if this continues?”
Congress, considering Madhya Pradesh primarily as a battle between the BJP and itself, argued that other parties without significant grassroots support would only dilute the anti-BJP vote, favoring the BJP.
In the 2018 Assembly election, Congress won 114 seats, just shy of a majority, while the BJP secured 109 constituencies. However, internal disagreements, notably Jyotiraditya Scindia’s shift to the BJP, led to the fall of the Congress-led government.
The INDIA alliance, formed by 26 parties nationwide, initially aimed to defeat the BJP at the national level. However, as the state elections approach, parties are revealing individual aspirations.
National parties desire to contest independently, while regional parties seek to expand their influence into new territories, leveraging their alliance partners’ dominance.
Congress, buoyed by Rahul Gandhi’s popularity after the Bharat Jodo Yatra, aims for a robust performance in the upcoming polls. Despite facing accusations of dynastic politics, Rahul Gandhi’s ability to connect with the youth and his unwavering commitment to his beliefs have bolstered his appeal.
This internal discord isn’t unique to Congress. Earlier, the AAP accused Congress of cheating and threatened to withdraw from the INDIA coalition if it continued to contest independently.
Furthermore, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has opted to stay away from the INDIA coalition, highlighting the challenges faced by the Opposition in maintaining unity.
The lack of a unified response from Congress only serves to underscore leadership challenges, raising questions about the party’s ability to maintain cohesion within the alliance.