New Delhi:
In the midst of the Delhi Assembly elections, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has once again criticized the internal strife within the opposition INDIA alliance, particularly targeting the infighting between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) takes a significant lead in the elections, Abdullah’s comments highlight the deep-seated issues plaguing the INDIA bloc.
Abdullah’s social media post, which went viral on Saturday, featured a GIF with the text “aur lado, jee bhar ke lado, samapt kar do ek dusre ko” (fight some more, fight to your heart’s content, finish each other off), accompanied by the phrase “aur lado aapas mein” (fight each other some more). This post came as the BJP appeared to be winning nearly 50 of Delhi’s 70 Assembly seats, potentially ending AAP’s decade-long rule in the capital.
Despite being part of the same opposition bloc, the Congress and AAP decided to contest the Delhi Assembly elections separately, a move that has been widely criticized. The two parties had previously fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together in Delhi but failed to extend their alliance to the Assembly polls. This decision led to a series of public spats, with leaders from both parties accusing each other of being a “B-team” of the BJP.
Omar Abdullah has been vocal about the lack of clarity and leadership within the INDIA alliance. He suggested that the alliance should be wound up if it was formed solely for the parliamentary elections, given the absence of any clear agenda or leadership. The INDIA bloc, comprising around two dozen parties, was formed to counter the BJP but has been marred by internal conflicts and a lack of coordination.
Key constituents of the INDIA bloc, such as Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP), have backed the AAP in the Delhi elections instead of the Congress. This move underscores the rift within the alliance, with Banerjee even expressing her willingness to lead the INDIA bloc and receiving support from some allies.
The Congress’s decision not to partner with AAP in Haryana proved costly, as the party suffered a humiliating defeat in the state. AAP was seen as playing a spoilsport for Congress in several seats, contributing to Congress’s poor performance. This defeat, combined with the lack of coordination in Delhi, has further splintered the INDIA alliance.
As the BJP looks set to secure a significant victory in Delhi, Omar Abdullah’s comments emphasize the need for the Congress to reassess its leadership role within the INDIA alliance. He pointed out that while the Congress has a natural claim to leadership due to its pan-India footprint and presence in Parliament, it must do more to justify and maintain this role among its allies.
The ongoing infighting and lack of unity within the INDIA bloc have only strengthened the BJP’s position, highlighting the urgent need for opposition parties to regroup and strategize effectively against their common adversary.
