In a significant development during the virtual meeting of INDIA bloc leaders on Saturday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has been appointed as the chairperson of the Opposition alliance. Simultaneously, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the president of Janata Dal (United), has temporarily chosen to withdraw from the convener post within the alliance, citing a condition that he would only accept if there is a consensus among all allies, according to sources.

The meeting, conducted virtually, focused on reviewing the seat-sharing agenda and addressing important matters related to the alliance. Notably, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, were conspicuously absent from the meeting.

Sources indicate that the TMC’s reluctance to engage in seat-sharing talks with the Congress’s national alliance committee led to its decision to skip the meeting. Earlier in the week, the TMC had signaled a willingness to concede two or three seats to the Congress in Bengal, an offer rejected by the state Congress.

The issue of appointing Nitish Kumar as the convener faced dissent within the INDIA bloc, with leaders of some parties expressing reservations, particularly the TMC. The JD(U) had advocated for a North-South combination, with Kharge as the chairperson and Kumar as the convener, aiming to present a united front ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress, aware of discomfort among regional parties about heading the alliance, was agreeable to Kumar’s appointment as the convener if consensus could be achieved. However, sources reveal a lack of enthusiasm from the Congress, leading to disappointment within the JD(U).

In the preceding weeks, the JD(U) actively sought support for its proposal from various INDIA bloc constituents. Despite the outreach, the party expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress’s perceived lack of enthusiasm on the matter. The dynamics within the INDIA alliance continue to evolve, setting the stage for further deliberations and negotiations among key political players.

Manipur :-  Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is set to kick off the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on January 14 from a private ground in Thoubal district, deviating from the initially planned starting point in Imphal. The flagging-off ceremony underwent last-minute changes due to tensions in the state, leading to a political dispute between the ruling and opposition parties.

The proposed Hapta Kangjeibung public ground in Imphal faced hurdles in receiving permissions from the Manipur government, prompting the Congress to seek an alternative venue. Despite discussions with Chief Minister N Biren Singh on January 10, the permission was not granted initially. However, a late-night decision by Thoubal DC eventually allowed the Yatra to commence from a private land in the Khongjom area of the district.

Congress’s Manipur president, Keisham Meghachandra, stated, “Not more than 1,000 people will be allowed at the venue, causing an alarming situation as the permission was initially withheld. Despite the change in the starting point, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will flag off the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, affirming that the route remains unchanged.”

The Yatra, covering a distance of 6,713 kilometers over 67 days, will pass through 110 districts across 15 states, starting in Manipur on January 14 and concluding in Mumbai on March 20. The altered starting point aims to ensure a smooth initiation of the Yatra amid the prevailing circumstances in the state.