Another Blow To INDI Alliance: After AAP, SP, JD(U) Fields Candidates Against Congress In Madhya Pradesh Elections

The Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], which is the ruling party in Bihar and a major member of the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive (INDI) Alliance, has unveiled its initial list of five candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections on 17 November.

This decision comes after the JD(U)'s attempts to form an alliance with the Congress party did not materialise and thus, it became the third party from the INDI Alliance to field its candidates against Congress in the BJP-ruled state.

The JD(U) general secretary, Afaque Ahmed Khan, announced on Tuesday (24 October) that the party's first list had been released as they were unable to reach an agreement. Khan stated that the JD(U) would be contesting approximately 10-12 seats and assured that the second list would be released in the near future.

Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) has till now announced candidates 42 candidates through four lists and intends to contest around 50 seats, while the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has till now announced a total of 69 candidates through three lists.

Notably, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar led extensive efforts to form the INDI Alliance after breaking ties with the BJP in 2022. Despite unsuccessful attempts to win assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh in 2003, 2008, and 2013, the party has again fielded its candidates.

Akhilesh Yadav had earlier alleged that if he had been aware that there would be no INDI Alliance at the state level, the SP representatives would not have approached Congress with a seat-sharing list. He also confirmed that his party will be contesting all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh during the 2024 national elections.

The SP has been aiming to transform from a regional party to a national party by expanding its presence beyond Uttar Pradesh. Although it was founded in 1992 as a regional party, the SP achieved its greatest achievement outside Uttar Pradesh in 2003 when it secured seven out of the 161 seats it contested in Madhya Pradesh.

During the 2018 assembly elections, the party contested 52 seats and managed to secure only one seat. However, the sole elected representative has later switched sides and joined the ruling BJP.

In September, the constituents of INDI Alliance made the decision to jointly participate in the 2024 elections, aiming for maximum collaboration. They announced that discussions for seat-sharing arrangements in different states will commence promptly and be finalized in a spirit of cooperation and compromise.