New Delhi:
The Opposition INDIA Bloc is back to the drawing board – not just for a strategy for the monsoon session of parliament or countering the BJP but to sort out its internal dynamics and figure out a roadmap.
The equations within the bloc have been upset by two events – the walkout of the DMK following the break-up of the alliance with the Congress and the defeat of Mamata Banerjee, who was looking for a larger national role, in the Bengal state elections.
Later today, the Opposition is meeting at Delhi’s Continental Club – a ‘neutral space’ and a change from its earlier venues, which were the residence of Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge.
The meeting is expected to be a difficult one, with the Congress’s move to split with the DMK spreading disquiet. MK Stalin’ DMK – the Congress’s former ally in South – has reiterated that it would skip the meeting and will no longer be part of the INDIA bloc.
The Congress – following repeated DMK refusals to allow it to part of the Tamil Nadu government – called off their decades-old alliance following the recent state election and joined the alliance government led by Vijay’s TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam).
This has spread uneasiness among allies, whose leaders have privately expressed reservations about the situation.
The defeat of Mamata Banerjee in Bengal, meanwhile, has upset the expectations of parties who were expecting a leader from a non-Congress party to lead the INDIA Bloc. Now Banerjee, who has an on-again off-again relationship with the Congress, is seen as the one needing its support.
The Trinamool is likely to raise the issue of alleged attacks on its leaders in Bengal and rally support of INDIA bloc parties.
“Meeting with a common purpose and clear intent. INDIA united. Many parties look forward to meeting in the spirit of camaraderie,” Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien posted on X.
Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party or AAP has already publicly distanced itself from the bloc.
The CPM, which is also upset with the Congress, will attend the INDIA alliance meet.
CPM General Secretary MA Baby had written to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge two days ago, regarding Rahul Gandhi’s comments alleging a collusion between Kerala’s former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the BJP.
The Congress has said that 23 parties will attend the meet. Apart from the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party, Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference said it will attend the meeting.
The meeting also comes amid speculation that the government might reintroduce two Constitution Amendment Bills it had failed to get passed earlier.
An united Opposition had foiled the government’s attempt to pass the delimitation and women’s reservation bills- which require two-thirds majority — during the budget session.
That issue is also expected to be discussed at the INDIA alliance meet. The alliance had previously met in April to discuss this issue.
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