Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for the dissolution of the INDIA alliance, stating that if it was only formed for last year’s Parliament elections, it lacks clear leadership and a defined agenda.
The National Conference leader made these remarks in response to a question about the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, which are shaping up as a three-way contest between AAP, BJP, and Congress. Notably, AAP and Congress had formed an alliance for the recent Lok Sabha elections.
In an interview with ANI, Omar Abdullah stated, “I cannot comment on the Delhi elections as we have no involvement in them. AAP, Congress, and other parties on the ground must decide how to counter the BJP. As far as I recall, there was no set time limit for the INDIA alliance. However, no meetings have been convened, and there is no clarity regarding its leadership, agenda, or the future of the bloc. If the alliance was only formed for the Parliament elections, it should be dissolved,” he added.
In recent weeks, AAP and Congress leaders have intensified their attacks on each other as they campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections. Congress has accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP of corruption and poor governance, while AAP has countered by alleging that Congress is colluding with the BJP.
Following Congress’s electoral setbacks, there have been growing questions about whether the party should continue to lead the INDIA bloc. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has expressed her willingness to take the helm of the alliance if given the opportunity, with several partners supporting her proposal.
Earlier, Omar Abdullah remarked that Congress should not take its leadership of the INDIA bloc for granted. He acknowledged that, as the largest party in Parliament with leaders of opposition in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and a pan-India presence, Congress is naturally positioned to lead the opposition movement. However, he noted growing discontent among some alliance partners, who feel that Congress is not doing enough to justify or maintain its leadership role. “This is something Congress might want to consider,” he added.
( This article has been written with the help of the NDTV Article)
