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Leaders of the INDIA bloc held a virtual meeting on Saturday to cement their strategy for the monsoon session of Parliament that begins on Monday
Leaders of the INDIA bloc hold a virtual meeting to strategise ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament. (Image: X/@Jairam_Ramesh)
Twenty-four opposition parties met as part of an INDIA bloc meeting, the first such gathering since the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results. Each party had a grievance with the government, and their common demand brought them together in the same virtual space. The Aam Aadmi Party was absent, though.
The camaraderie was evident as the parties united behind a common demand—that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must clarify on the Bihar SIR voter list review and US President Donald Trump’s claim that he brokered the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
However, the camaraderie cannot hide the underlying disgruntlement. More importantly, the question arises: has Rahul Gandhi, with his comments, hurt the alliance? First, AAP was upset with the Congress’s strategy during the Delhi polls, where Rahul Gandhi attacked Arvind Kejriwal over the “Sheesh Mahal” and “liquor scam” issues. AAP blames Congress for its defeat by the BJP in Delhi. And ahead of the Punjab and even Gujarat polls, Kejriwal’s party wants to snatch Congress’s space.
While the Left parties, CPI(M) and CPI, attended the meeting, their anger with the Congress and Rahul Gandhi was evident. In Kerala’s Kannur, Rahul had attacked the Left and stated that the Congress’s fight was against both the RSS and the CPI(M). This was Rahul Gandhi’s aggression ahead of the 2026 Kerala polls, but the CPI(M) saw it as being equated with the RSS.
The CPI(M) issued a statement saying, “In his absurd and condemnable comment equating the RSS and CPI(M), Rahul Gandhi forgets who is fighting the RSS in Kerala. In Kerala, Congress and RSS continue to echo each other in expressing anti-communist sentiments. As soon as Rahul Gandhi enters Kerala, he speaks that language too.”
The Left has been a loyal ally of the Congress despite the fact that the two are adversaries in Kerala. But so far, Rahul Gandhi had refrained from such harsh words. Left sources say that, if he wanted, he could attack the government on economic development, but to speak like the BJP is unfair. In fact, many within the Congress who have accused Rahul Gandhi of being under the Left’s influence were surprised and dismayed by this attack. They feel Rahul Gandhi, as the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, must ensure that the India bloc stands united inside Parliament. This comment, many feel, would only hurt a show of strength inside the House, which is his responsibility as LoP.
The Trinamool Congress may have been chastened by the Congress’s soft stance on the RG Kar Hospital and law student rape issues, but the trust factor between the two remains low as the Left continues to be the Congress’s ally in Bengal.
So, has Rahul Gandhi sacrificed the bloc for his personal views and politics?
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als…Read More
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als… Read More
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