Assembly poll loss by Congress unlikely to affect I.N.D.I.A alliance: Mamata Banerjee
Assembly poll: Amidst the Congress's setbacks in three Hindi heartland Assembly elections, dissent brews within the opposition block, pointing fingers at the party's independent contesting and its repercussions in fragmenting votes to the advantage of the BJP.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee highlighted the Congress's loss in the polls due to the absence of seat-sharing agreements with other opposition members. She emphasised that it's the "defeat of the Congress, not the people." Echoing this sentiment, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav suggested that regional parties should lead the charge against the BJP in areas where they wield influence.
Mamata Banerjee underscored the necessity of both ideology and strategy in securing victories, highlighting the impact of vote division due to the lack of seat-sharing arrangements. Stressing the importance of collaboration, she emphasised that with such arrangements, the BJP's ascent to power in 2024 could be averted. Looking ahead to the upcoming general elections, she pledged that the opposition alliance would learn from their mistakes and work collectively to rectify them.
The recent defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan have led to introspection within the opposition. The Congress managed only one seat in Mizoram despite contesting all 40, securing solace with a victory in Telangana. During this round of Assembly elections, the Congress and its allies chose to contest separately on many seats, causing a division in votes that worked to the BJP's advantage.
In Madhya Pradesh, talks between the Congress and Akhilesh Yadav's party broke down over seat-sharing issues. The SP spokesperson blamed undignified remarks made by Kamal Nath for the alliance's collapse, leading to the Congress's loss.
Akhilesh Yadav emphasised the need for meticulous preparation to combat the BJP's strategies, aiming to revert to the starting point where regional strengths were supported, signifying an imminent change in the 2024 polls. As the trends hinted at the Congress's impending defeats, voices from various opposition quarters criticised the decision to contest independently, emphasising the need for united opposition against the BJP in the Hindi heartland.
While the Congress's electoral strategies and lack of collaboration are being questioned, Mamata Banerjee's absence is expected at the next INDIA bloc meeting this Wednesday, reflecting a tense situation within the opposition camp following the recent electoral setbacks.
- With inputs from agencies
