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.
