The NDA alliance, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has won a historic third term in power, with more than 290 seats in the 543-member parliament. But his BJP on its own did not reach the magic figure of 272 seats needed to form the government – and the prime minister is now being seen as a much diminished leader. The outcome is being seen as a huge comeback for the opposition INDIA which won just over 230 seats although it doesn’t have the numbers to cobble together a government. However, the political developments over the past few months within the INDIA bloc have triggered the debate around a pertinent question of whether this opposition bloc is disintegrating.
Strained relations among coalition members are clearly visible in the states such as Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The discord seems to be reaching a critical point, with Congress adopting a more confrontational position against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Congress is gradually positioning itself as a key rival to the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. Banerjee has also not participated in any major meetings of the INDIA bloc since it came into being. The situation worsened further during a recent protest over the death of a female doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The Congress launched attacks on the Trinamool government, slamming it for what it called “poor law and order”.
The clash is not confined to West Bengal alone. Needless to say, the alliance is facing problems, with various constituents being at odds due mainly to personal ambitions of the leaders. Reports of infighting among alliance members are being seen in other states as well. The AAP and Congress are fighting against each other in the assembly elections in Haryana, in what is a reminder about their contest in the Punjab assembly polls. Leaders from both parties frequently exchange allegations and counter allegations, lending credence to perception that the INDIA bloc is disintegrating. This implies the widening rift within the INDIA bloc, which was formed to pose a challenge to the BJP’s dominance politics.
In Maharashtra, there are roadblocks being faced by Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in reaching a seat-sharing agreement within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Congress is said to be seeking the lion’s share. Questions are also being raised over Congress’ relationship with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) as seat-sharing talks commence in Jharkhand in days to come. There are now questions whether the INDIA bloc can withstand these internal conflicts or if it is on the verge of collapse. The INDIA bloc exists but real unity and cohesion are nowhere to be seen. In fact, this is not a good thing for the bloc’s future.
