NDA calls INDIA bloc 'shrinking' as Congress insists alliance holds firm
Synopsis
The NDA is pressing its 'shrinking INDIA bloc' narrative hard — pointing to AAP's exit and DMK's cooling — but Congress is fighting back, citing 25 parties still in the tent and Mamata Banerjee as a 'pillar of strength.' The real question isn't who's in the alliance today, but who shows up when the next election is called.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam said on 10 June that the INDIA bloc is 'continuously shrinking' due to internal conflicts.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore asserted that 25 opposition parties remain united under the bloc's banner.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its exit from the INDIA bloc; the DMK has also made distancing signals.
BJP MP Kiran Choudhary claimed the Trinamool Congress is 'imploding from within,' with MPs and MLAs turning against each other.
Congress's Tagore cited Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav as continuing pillars of the alliance.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday, 10 June claimed that the INDIA bloc is 'shrinking' due to deepening internal conflicts, while the Indian National Congress pushed back, asserting the opposition alliance remains united despite state-level differences. The exchange marked a fresh escalation in the war of words between the ruling coalition and the opposition grouping.
NDA's Claim: Alliance Is Contracting
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam said the INDIA bloc is 'continuously shrinking' amid reports of leadership disputes. 'On the other hand, the NDA alliance is continuously expanding and strengthening,' he said. Nirupam attributed the NDA's momentum to its leaders staying 'actively connected with the people in their respective states' — a contrast, he argued, to an opposition consumed by internal friction.
Congress Holds Its Ground
Congress MP Manickam Tagore countered that the INDIA bloc was 'formed to fight against the RSS, BJP, and Amit Shah' and had 'achieved significant success.' While acknowledging state-level differences, Tagore maintained that the alliance 'remains united in its fight' under the leadership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other senior opposition figures.
Tagore pointed to the continued presence of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) as evidence of the bloc's cohesion. 'Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee has been a pillar of strength for the INDIA bloc, so is Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav. As many as 25 opposition parties are united,' he said. He also issued a veiled appeal to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), urging parties with state-level grievances to prioritise the 'larger national ambition.'
The Fault Lines: AAP, DMK, and TMC
The INDIA bloc has faced notable departures and strains in recent months. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has formally announced its exit from the alliance, and the DMK has made what Tagore described as 'certain announcements' — widely read as a signal of distance. These developments have given the NDA fresh ammunition to question the bloc's durability ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
BJP Targets Trinamool Congress
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kiran Choudhary took direct aim at the TMC, alleging the party 'had outlived its time' due to 'hooliganism' and syndicate politics. She claimed that West Bengal voters turned to the BJP partly over its promise to act against illegal immigration. 'You can now see that the Trinamool Congress is imploding from within. Its MPs and MLAs are turning against each other, and the party is gradually collapsing,' she said. The TMC has not responded to these specific allegations.
What This Signals
This comes amid growing speculation about the INDIA bloc's cohesion as state assembly elections loom in several key states. Notably, this is not the first time the NDA has sought to frame opposition unity as fragile — a similar narrative was deployed before the 2024 general elections, when the bloc ultimately held together longer than many analysts predicted. Whether the current strains prove terminal or manageable will likely depend on how individual parties weigh national strategy against state-level electoral calculus.
Point of View
But 25 parties still formally inside is not a trivial number. Congress's counter-narrative leans heavily on Mamata Banerjee, which is itself a vulnerability: TMC's internal turbulence, if BJP's claims hold, could hollow out that argument fast. The deeper issue is that the INDIA bloc was always a coalition of convenience held together by a common opponent, not a shared programme. As state-level electoral pressures intensify, the centrifugal forces will only grow — and no amount of press-conference unity can substitute for a coordinated ground strategy.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NDA's claim about the INDIA bloc?
The NDA, through Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam, claimed on 10 June that the INDIA bloc is 'continuously shrinking' due to internal conflicts and leadership differences among opposition parties. The NDA simultaneously argued its own alliance is expanding and strengthening.
How has Congress responded to the NDA's claims?
Congress MP Manickam Tagore insisted the INDIA bloc remains united, citing 25 opposition parties still within the alliance. He acknowledged state-level differences but said the bloc is united in its national fight under Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's leadership.
Which parties have left or distanced themselves from the INDIA bloc?
The Aam Aadmi Party has formally announced its exit from the INDIA bloc. The DMK has also made announcements interpreted as signals of distance, though Congress has stopped short of confirming a full DMK departure.
What did BJP's Kiran Choudhary say about the Trinamool Congress?
BJP MP Kiran Choudhary alleged that the Trinamool Congress has 'outlived its time' and is 'imploding from within,' with its MPs and MLAs turning against each other. She linked the BJP's rising support in West Bengal to voter discontent with TMC's governance.
Why does the INDIA bloc's unity matter now?
The INDIA bloc's cohesion is significant ahead of upcoming state assembly elections, where opposition coordination could determine seat-sharing and vote-consolidation outcomes. Fragmentation at the state level risks splitting anti-BJP votes, which would benefit the NDA directly.
