No trust or common purpose, alliance of 'disappointed and divided' parties: BJP on INDIA bloc meet
New Delhi, June 8
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched a sharp attack on the opposition INDIA bloc, describing it as a coalition of"disappointed people" brought together by electoral setbacks and claiming that the alliance lacks cohesion, trust and a shared political direction.
The remarks came as leaders of the INDIA bloc gathered in New Delhi for a meeting aimed at discussing political strategy and coordination among opposition parties. The meeting took place amid questions over the unity and future direction of the alliance, particularly after reports of differences among some of its key constituents.
Even as concerns emerged from parties such as the DMK, the CPI (M) and the JMM regarding various aspects of opposition coordination, the Congress on Sunday sought to present a picture of unity.
The party stated that representatives of 23 political parties would participate in the Delhi meeting and maintained that even parties unable to attend had communicated their opposition to the policies of the BJP-led Central government.
Commenting on the development, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said the opposition parties were attempting to regroup after suffering a series of electoral defeats.
"Today, the entire opposition is demoralised due to repeated electoral defeats. They are frustrated and disappointed, and are trying to come together as a group of disappointed people. This is not an alliance, because in an alliance all parties move together. Here, every party is working separately," Khandelwal told IANS.
Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana also criticised the opposition coalition, arguing that the Congress had failed to effectively raise issues concerning the public and questioning the very relevance of the INDIA bloc.
"Congress is unable to raise the issues of the country's people and is only creating a nuisance and indulging in stunts, and I don't think there is any such thing as the INDIA bloc; it was already a sinking ship," Khatana said while speaking to IANS.
Adding to the criticism, BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok claimed that the alliance was struggling because of a lack of coordination and common objectives among its constituent parties.
"There is no harmony among them, no coordination, no mutual trust, and no common purpose. Each leader is primarily concerned about his or her own political existence and interests," Alok said.
BJP National Spokesperson R.P. Singh also questioned the political coherence of the opposition grouping and pointed to what he described as differences among several regional parties and leaders associated with the bloc.
"From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there is political turmoil. In Kashmir, Omar Abdullah has already distanced himself from them. He is saying that he has nothing to do with the Congress... Left is also tired of Rahul Gandhi's statement, DMK is not willing to be with them... Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was contesting elections against Congress in Bengal, and now they are joining hands. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party is not willing to go along with them. This is an alliance born of necessity; without any strategy or leadership," Singh said.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also took aim at the opposition alliance, describing it as an arrangement marked by contradictions and competing ambitions.
"It is full of paradoxes and internal contradictions... Because in it, everyone is a Prime Minister-in-waiting; in it, the charioteer guru is there, and the companion guru is a fraud; therefore, this alliance's journey becomes shaky even before it begins," Naqvi told IANS.
The BJP's criticism comes at a time when opposition parties are attempting to strengthen coordination ahead of upcoming political battles and parliamentary sessions.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, as a common voter, I'm tired of all these alliances. They come together just before elections, make big promises, and then fall apart. Whether it's INDIA or NDA, the common man's issues – inflation, unemployment – get sidelined. Both sides need to focus on governance, not just power games. 🤷♀️
BJP's criticism is expected, but they're missing the bigger point. Regional parties like DMK, TMC, AAP have strong local bases. If INDIA bloc can agree on a common minimum programme and seat-sharing, they can challenge BJP effectively. The opposition needs to stop bickering and present a credible alternative. Otherwise, 2024 will be a repeat of 2019.
Naqvi's comment about "charioteer guru" and "companion guru" is hilarious and petty at the same time 😂 But honestly, the INDIA bloc does seem more like a photo-op alliance than a serious political force. They need to show voters they can actually govern together, not just oppose together.
One thing I'll give BJP credit for is their messaging discipline. They always stay on-brand with their attacks. But calling INDIA bloc a "sinking ship" is premature. Remember, even the NDA had its share of squabbles in 1998-99 before stabilizing. Let's see how opposition evolves over next year, yaar.
I think the real problem is that opposition parties are more focused on defeating Modi than offering a vision for India. With so many 'PM-in-wait
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.