New Delhi [India]: Following a series of disappointing performances by key INDIA bloc parties in recent assembly elections, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal emphasized the need for the alliance to regroup and strategize effectively.
Speaking about the Congress, Sibal acknowledged the party’s commitment to working collectively but admitted that internal challenges sometimes hinder progress. He cited the 2020 Bihar assembly elections as an example, where Congress’ poor performance prevented the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ from securing a majority.
“Congress party always tries to work together and move ahead with consent. This is true that there are problems at times. In the last election in Bihar, Congress was given seats but they could not win, and RJD said they could not come to power because of Congress. All the parties (of INDIA alliance) will have to decide how to contest elections,” Sibal stated at a press conference.
Following the BJP’s decisive victories in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Haryana, Sibal pointed out that the ruling party benefits from having a centralized leadership structure.
“In the BJP, the advantage is that there is a single command and they fight elections under that single command, hence they benefit too. In Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Congress fought in alliance and they got the benefit. The INDIA alliance will have to sit and work things out,” he said.
Sibal also echoed Sharad Pawar’s stance that the INDIA alliance is a national alliance rather than a state-level one.
“Sharad Pawar reiterated many times that the national alliance is applicable only when national elections are held and it is not applicable in regional elections. Our regional parties want to have some footprint outside their state, while the national party wants to maintain its presence. So, this discussion should move forward with the consent of all INDIA alliance partners,” Sibal explained.
He reaffirmed his confidence in the alliance’s longevity, stating, “There is no doubt that the INDIA alliance will stay intact. Those who manage the leadership of our regional parties are very sensible people and they know what challenges we are facing.”
The Congress, which had been hoping for a resurgence in Delhi, failed to win a single seat once again. The party, which ruled Delhi for 15 years from 1998, recorded its third consecutive electoral zero in the capital.
The BJP secured a two-thirds majority in Delhi’s February 8 assembly polls, significantly weakening the ruling AAP. The Congress continued its downward trend, while the BJP also dominated in Haryana and Maharashtra, further dampening the opposition’s momentum ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.