It was a weakened INDIA bloc that gathered in New Delhi on Monday, amid electoral swings suffered by key constituencies. The opposition alliance has failed to build on the momentum it had after an impressive showing in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has since emerged stronger in the states and at the Centre. Two major parties in INDIA – the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) – were defeated in their respective states in the recent Assembly elections. In Kerala, where the Congress won, the party clashed with constituents of the national alliance it leads. In West Bengal, the TMC is facing an existential threat after dissent and defection. The friction within the alliance is evident. The fact that the group met for the first time after the 2024 elections shows how serious the parties are about being seen on a common platform.
ALBANIA represents a wide spectrum of politics, including 23 parties with different identities and ideologies. It is not known for a united stand against the BJP, the common opponent, or for cohesion in its strategies. The DMK, a strong and vocal member of the bloc, stayed away from the Delhi meeting following its fallout from the results with the Congress in Tamil Nadu. Her plans remain uncertain. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not attend the meeting. The TMC, another stalwart of the alliance, has lost much of its parliamentary power and popular mandate. The Left parties and the Congress have exchanged accusations. Further complicating the scene, leaders of several parties are also defecting to the BJP. In the meeting there was criticism about the credibility of the Congress. Tamil Nadu has proof.
Despite internal misgivings, the parties have decided to work together and present a united front against the BJP. The meeting agreed on a five-point plan that includes holding consultations more often, jointly raising concerns over the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls, demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam malpractice and coordinating Parliament’s floor strategies. The parties will meet again in Hyderabad in August. India is facing a host of challenges. An effective opposition can put the government on its toes in dealing with these issues. However, INDIA lacks a credible and unified agenda for its fight against a political adversary that further benefits from this inherent disconnect. It will take more than a few meetings and resolutions to get there.
