INDIA bloc cracks widen as Pinarayi Vijayan attacks Rahul Gandhi over hug remark
Synopsis
A throwaway remark about a hug has cracked the INDIA bloc wide open. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's public broadside against Rahul Gandhi — citing Congress's centralised approach as an existential threat to the alliance — signals that the coalition's regional pillars are no longer willing to stay quiet. With CPI(M) organisational meetings imminent, a formal rethink may be closer than it looks.
Key Takeaways
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan publicly attacked Rahul Gandhi on 13 June over remarks made at an INDIA bloc meeting.
Vijayan accused Congress of adopting a centralised approach that damages Opposition unity and benefits the BJP .
CPI(M) leader John Brittas reportedly challenged Gandhi's arguments at the Delhi alliance meeting, defending regional parties.
Akhilesh Yadav (SP) and Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) have also voiced concerns over Congress's strategy within the bloc.
The DMK 's shifting stance in Tamil Nadu has added further uncertainty to the alliance's future.
The CPI(M) is expected to discuss its future in the INDIA bloc at upcoming organisational meetings.
The INDIA bloc's internal fault lines cracked open on Saturday, 13 June, as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched a pointed attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of pursuing an approach that risks fracturing the anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance. The confrontation was triggered by remarks Gandhi reportedly made at an INDIA bloc meeting, where he alluded to his inability to hug the Kerala leader — a comment Vijayan has since turned into a broader indictment of Congress's conduct within the coalition.
The Hug Remark and Vijayan's Rebuttal
Vijayan was unsparing in his response, dismissing the gesture-based framing as a distraction from substantive politics. 'When Rahul Gandhi and I meet, we either greet each other or shake hands. But the country has also seen him hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament. I have no objection to that. But the way he presented the issue at the INDIA meeting was different,' Vijayan said.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] veteran stressed that hugging is not a customary greeting in Indian political culture and that he has never followed such a practice. He argued that Gandhi's framing of the issue at the alliance meeting was politically loaded and damaging to bloc unity.
CPI(M) Pushes Back at Delhi Meeting
The friction was not limited to Vijayan alone. At the Delhi meeting of the INDIA alliance, CPI(M) leader John Brittas reportedly challenged Gandhi's arguments head-on, defending the primacy of regional parties and state-specific political realities within the coalition's framework.
According to sources, several Opposition partners expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as the Congress's tendency to impose a centralised approach on an inherently diverse alliance. This is a recurring grievance — one that has surfaced at multiple INDIA bloc conclaves since the grouping was formed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Akhilesh, Tejashwi, DMK Add to Pressure
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar have also reportedly voiced concerns over Congress's strategic direction within the bloc. Meanwhile, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)'s shifting political posture in Tamil Nadu has further clouded the alliance's cohesion.
Notably, this is not the first time regional heavyweights have questioned Congress's role as de facto bloc leader — but the public sharpness of Vijayan's language marks a significant escalation.
CPI(M)'s Future in the Alliance Under Question
The latest confrontation has intensified speculation that the CPI(M) may reconsider its continued association with the INDIA bloc. Party leaders have reportedly been debating whether the alliance can remain viable unless Congress adopts a more accommodating stance toward regional partners.
With the CPI(M) expected to deliberate on its future strategy at upcoming organisational meetings, the coming weeks could prove decisive for the bloc's structure and survival ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
Not the cause. The INDIA bloc was always a marriage of convenience among parties with competing state-level interests, and Congress's apparent assumption of a first-among-equals role has grated on regional partners from the start. Vijayan's decision to go public — rather than contain this within closed-door meetings — signals that the CPI(M) calculates it has more to gain electorally by distancing itself from a Congress perceived as overbearing. The deeper problem is structural: an alliance built on a shared opponent (BJP) rather than a shared programme has no internal glue when the electoral moment passes. If the CPI(M) exits or downgraded its association, it will not be the last domino.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the Pinarayi Vijayan–Rahul Gandhi hug row?
The row was triggered by remarks Rahul Gandhi reportedly made at an INDIA bloc meeting, where he alluded to his inability to hug Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Vijayan publicly rebuked the comment, calling it politically damaging and unrepresentative of Indian greeting customs.
What did Pinarayi Vijayan say about Rahul Gandhi?
Vijayan said Gandhi's style of functioning and the Congress leadership's approach were among the core reasons behind the crisis confronting the INDIA alliance. He also noted that while Gandhi had been seen hugging PM Narendra Modi in Parliament, the way the hug issue was raised at the INDIA meeting was 'different' and inappropriate.
Who else has raised concerns about Congress within the INDIA bloc?
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav have both reportedly voiced concerns over Congress's strategy. CPI(M) leader John Brittas also challenged Gandhi's arguments at the Delhi alliance meeting, and the DMK's shifting position in Tamil Nadu has added to broader uncertainty.
Is the CPI(M) likely to exit the INDIA bloc?
No formal decision has been announced, but speculation has intensified following Vijayan's public attack. The CPI(M) is expected to discuss its future strategy at upcoming organisational meetings, and party leaders have reportedly questioned whether the alliance can survive without a more accommodating approach from Congress.
Why does the INDIA bloc's internal conflict matter?
The INDIA bloc was formed as the primary Opposition front against the BJP. Fractures between Congress and key regional partners like CPI(M), SP, and RJD weaken the coalition's electoral and legislative effectiveness, potentially benefiting the ruling BJP ahead of future state and national elections.
