Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who has emerged as unofficial supreme leader of the opposition’s INDIA bloc till now seems to be isolated after Congress party’s disastrous failure in both Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections. Several regional parties, who are part of the INDIA bloc, are attributing failure of his leadership contributing to Congress’s miserable performance in these elections.
Already AAP has distanced itself from Congress and is preparing to contest in the next Delhi assembly elections on its own. In the ongoing Parliament winter session, TMC, Samajwadi Party and AAP are taking independent stands away from the Congress on the issues to be pressed for debate.
At this juncture, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banarjee’s assertion that she is ready to head the INDIA block is receiving wide range support from constituency of the block. None of the constituent party seems to be in a position to stand with Rahul Gandhi in leading the block.
Amid rift within the Opposition camp on who will lead it, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav became the latest leader to back West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to lead the INDIA bloc. Lalu Prasad Yadav extended support to Mamata Banerjee to lead INDIA bloc, saying “We will support Mamta Banerjee. She should be allowed to head the INDIA bloc.”
Congress, a significant player in the INDIA Bloc, has yet to issue an official response to Lalu Yadav’s suggestion, fueling speculation about internal rifts.
After Mamata Banerjee showed interest in leading the INDIA bloc last week, many non-Congress parties have come forward to support her, including Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP. The Samajwadi Party, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasahaeb Thackeray) leaders also have extended support to her. Significantly, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP joined the growing chorus to hand over the INDIA bloc leadership to Mamata Banerjee.
“Mamta Banerjee is an ideal candidate to lead the INDIA alliance as she has the required political and electoral experience to head an alliance. Didi is also the CM of a large state with 42 Lok Sabha seats and has proven herself time and again,” tweeted YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijayasai Reddy.
In the meantime, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee asked Congress to set aside its ego and make Mamata Banerjee the INDIA bloc chief. Kalyan Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that the INDIA bloc has failed under Congress leadership and suggested that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee take charge of the alliance.
However, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Mahua Majhi maintained a cautious stance. “There is no official statement from our party yet. I cannot say anything about it. Every party has their opinion. When the meeting will take place and whatever would be decided unanimously, that would be acceptable to our party…” she added.