How INDIA bloc's power dynamics is likely to shift after Congress's loss in Assembly Election 2023. Explained
Assembly poll results 2023 in three states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh - being a disappointment for the Congress, some rumblings have begun among the constituents of the INDIA opposition bloc ahead of their meeting on December 6, with many leaders alleging that the grand old party ignored others, but was unable to win elections on its own. Some regional parties, including the TMC, AAP, and SP had earlier expressed eagerness for early seat-sharing talks, but the Congress delayed discussions until after assembly polls.
Sources close to PTI cited, the Congress deliberately postponed negotiations to increase its bargaining position, anticipating a favorable outcome in the elections. “During the CWC meeting in Hyderabad, some leaders advocated for avoiding early seat-sharing talks with regional parties, suggesting that the Congress should not go in for early seat-sharing talks with regional parties and that it should hold discussions from a position of strength after the party fares well in assembly elections in five states," the sources said.
The attitude became more apparent during talks between the SP and Congress on seat sharing for the Madhya Pradesh polls had failed. As the results pushed the Congress further back, leaving it in power in only three states on its own -- Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana -- some opposition parties are questioning whether the grand old party is the weakest link within the alliance.
JDU, Nitish Kumar's party that initially proposed the idea of an alliance party, took a jibe at the Congress saying it was clear that the party couldn't win the elections alone. JDU leader KC Tyagi said, "It is very necessary now for everyone to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
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