India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, two important constituents of opposition alliance INDIA seem to be unhappy with the Congress for different reasons.
They have expressed their resentment with the Congress party when assembly polls in five states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram – are just a few weeks ahead.
Many observers say that the outburst of Akhilesh and Nitish only makes the BJP comfortable against Congress and INDIA. BJP leader and the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai taunted that the opposition unity seems to be in disarray if the outbursts of the two important constituents of INDIA are any indication.
While Akhilesh Yadav is not happy about the Congress not agreeing to an electoral alliance with the SP in MP elections and unfriendly comments by Congress’ Kamal Nath, Nitish has felt irritated at no INDIA activities for the past many weeks. These two developments have put Congress in a predicament.
Akhilesh Yadav was so irked that he chose to say that there was no difference between BJP and Congress. As there has been no alliance at the state level, the Samajwadi Party is fighting 72 assembly seats which may damage the prospect of Congress party candidates.
Akhilesh was so angry with Congress MP state president and former CM Kamal Nath for failure to forge an alliance that he went on to say, “What can be expected from someone who has ‘Kamal’ in his name”, an obvious reference to the BJP’s election symbol.
The war of words between SP and Congress which intensified over the alliance in MP had started last month. It was the UP Congress then, now it is the MP Congress. After the UP spat, Akhilesh had hinted that tensions with the Congress might see a resolution as he had received a message from the topmost Congress leader. He also suggested the SP would always stand with Congress. But things seem to be running not smoothly as Akhilesh himself is targeting Congress.
On the other hand, Bihar Chief Minster hinted that the Congress party should have been more active in arranging meetings of the INDIA alliance. Nitish was speaking at a rally of the Communist Party of India in Patna where he showed his unhappiness over the Congress not talking about INDIA and being busy in assembly elections. He was indicating the loss of momentum among the opposition alliance.
Soon after the outburst of Nitish Kumar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge dialed him and reportedly they talked about the future programme of INDIA. It is also understood that Mr. Kharge told Mr. Kumar that the Congress party would be involved in INDIA activities after the results of the state assembly elections are out on December 3.
Reports suggest that Congress is doing good in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh while it is embroiled in a tough fight in Rajasthan. It is said that Congress may regain Madhya Pradesh from the BJP and retain the Chattisgarh government. Only in Rajasthan, Congress is reported to be in a tough battle to save its government there. In Telangana, the Congress is trying its best to upstage the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtriya Samiti government. In Mizoram, Congress is the main opposition party.
Observers say that Nitish Kumar’s expectation from Congress to work for opposition unity while fighting the election in the five states is unrealistic. Many say that if the Congress party does not fight the
five-state assembly elections well, INDIA may lose momentum. So, it is important for INDIA that the Congress party does well in the upcoming assembly elections.
While it is clear that there is no seat-sharing arrangement within INDIA in, at least, Madhya Pradesh, the possibility of stage-sharing is also very weak. Observers say that if Congress had managed INDIA-partners well, leaders like Nitish Kumar and Tejasjhwi Yadav could have been used in the election campaign. However, due to a lack of coordination, the BJP is not facing united opposition in the elections.
On the other hand, Nitish Kumar is being criticized for publicly showing his unhappiness over the Congress party’s ‘inaction’ for any activity by INDIA. It is being said that Nitish could have conveyed his displeasure to the Congress party leaders over the phone or through his emissary.
It was indeed Nitish who initiated and encouraged the Congress party for the opposition unity. But seemingly Nitish did not get any important role in INDIA. It is also speculated that Nitish Kumar is not happy with the fact that there is no convener of INDIA. Reportedly, he was himself interested in becoming the convener.
Nityanand Rai of BJP claimed that Nitish Kumar has been sidelined in INDIA. Observers say that Nitish is trying to establish himself more firmly in INDIA. This is said to be the reason behind his outbursts.
It is not clear which way Akhilesh Yadav will go in Uttar Pradesh once the result of five Assembly elections are announced but Nitish Kumar has no option but to be with the Congress party. He has repeatedly said that no national opposition could be imagined without the Congress party. So, it is more likely that things with Nitish would settle down after December 3.
