News Brief
Vansh Gupta
Jan 09, 2025, 02:31 PM | Updated Jan 10, 2025, 04:37 PM IST
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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for introspection within the Opposition’s INDI Alliance, questioning its leadership and agenda.
He suggested that the bloc should be dissolved if it was formed merely for last year’s Parliament elections.
Speaking to news agency ANI, the National Conference leader expressed concern over the absence of any recent INDIA alliance meetings.
“There is no clarity about leadership, agenda, or our existence as a bloc. They should wind up the alliance if it was just for the Parliament elections,” said Abdullah.
His remarks come as the Delhi is preparing for for a three-cornered battle between the AAP, BJP, and Congress in the upcoming Assembly polls.
While distancing himself from the Delhi contest, Abdullah highlighted internal discord within the alliance.
He noted, “AAP, Congress and the other parties on the ground must decide how to combat the BJP...”
Over recent weeks, the AAP and Congress have been at odds during their campaigns, trading accusations of corruption and collusion.
This public sparring has raised doubts about the alliance's long-term viability, especially in light of Congress’s electoral setbacks and the absence of a unified leadership framework.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has signalled her willingness to lead the INDIA bloc, with some partners endorsing her proposal.
However, Abdullah had earlier warned the Congress against taking the leadership for granted.
“By virtue of being the single largest party in Parliament, and also having the leader of opposition in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the fact that they have a pan-India footprint, which no other party can lay claim to, they are natural sort of leaders of an opposition movement,” he said.
"Yet there is a sense of disquiet among some of the allies because they feel the Congress is not doing enough to justify it or to earn it or to keep it. That's something the Congress might wish to consider," he added.
Vansh Gupta is an Editorial Associate at Swarajya.