Is the Alliance Truly United? Congress MP Denies Mamata's Role in Leading INDIA Bloc
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Congress MP Pramod Tiwari defends the unity of the INDIA Bloc.
- The Trinamool Congress advocates for Mamata Banerjee to lead the opposition.
- The Congress faced significant losses in the Bihar elections.
- Calls for leadership change within the alliance are growing.
- The Election Commission's review process is contested by the Congress.
New Delhi, Nov 18 (NationPress) Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday rejected the speculation that the Trinamool Congress is pushing to highlight West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the face of the INDIA Bloc, emphasizing that the alliance is robust and cohesive.
The Trinamool has continuously asserted that Mamata Banerjee should spearhead the Opposition coalition against the BJP-led NDA, arguing that the Congress has struggled to effectively contest the ruling party on a national level. They believe that under Mamata's guidance, the alliance would achieve stronger outcomes.
In response to these assertions, Tiwari stated to IANS, "The Trinamool is aligned with the INDIA Bloc. Our coalition is exceptionally strong. I’m unaware of who made these remarks, but the Trinamool and all parties within the INDIA Bloc are united and resilient."
His comments arise following the Congress' disappointing performance in the Bihar elections.
The party secured only six seats this time, despite an extensive campaign spearheaded by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and several senior leaders.
The RJD, a partner in the alliance, also faced significant losses, winning just 25 seats, a drastic drop from 75 in the last election. The NDA dominated the state with 202 seats in the 243-member Assembly.
The Congress' continuous electoral failures have sparked discussions within parts of the INDIA Bloc for a leadership change, with some parties suggesting the alliance needs to reassess its strategy.
Tiwari also addressed the Special Intensive Review being conducted by the Election Commission across various states, stating that the Congress strongly opposes this initiative.
"Today, leaders from the Congress Legislature Party, presidents of the Pradesh Congress Committees, in-charges, and members of our senior leadership will convene to strategize against how the Election Commission and the BJP are collaboratively undermining the democratic right to vote and committing electoral fraud. We will formulate our approach to counter this," he remarked.