FRICTION GROWS IN I.N.D.I.A BLOC AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

Internal conflicts within the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A bloc are escalating over seat-sharing and Congress’ waning influence.

- TIKAM SHARMA

N.D.I.A bloc is showing signs of internal friction as several of its regional partners express dissatisfaction with the way Congress is handling the alliance, ahead of Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly elections. In various states, one or more of these allies are unhappy with Congress's approach, particularly where Congress lacks significant ground support or organisational strength.

For instance, in states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, Congress's presence has weakened over the years.

Regional parties dominate these states, but Congress is still pressuring its allies to allocate more seats for it in the upcoming Assembly elections. This demand has created tension, as regional parties believe they are better positioned to win elections in these states. Instead of acknowledging its weak position in these areas, Congress is reportedly trying to assert itself over the regional parties, which has led to growing dissatisfaction within the alliance.

Many of these regional parties feel that Congress's actions are counterproductive and may harm the overall prospects of the alliance in the long run. The ongoing struggle for seatsharing is one of the key reasons behind the cracks that are beginning to appear in the alliance. Despite the intent to form a united front against their common political adversaries, the internal power struggles are creating uncertainty about the future cohesion of the I.N.D.I. A. alliance.