Congress Vows to Strengthen INDIA Bloc Amidst Recent Setbacks

NEW DELHI - In the wake of disappointing electoral outcomes in Bihar, the Indian National Congress has reaffirmed its commitment to the INDIA bloc, dismissing speculations of a potential exit and pledging to reinforce the national alliance. The party aims to enhance the coalition's efficacy in countering the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) influence on the national political stage.

AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal stated that the INDIA bloc was established as a platform for like-minded parties to coordinate and challenge the BJP's policies. "Nothing has changed since it was formed. Congress is committed to INDIA and will make further efforts to boost its efficacy," Venugopal told TOI. He further indicated that the opposition would maintain its collaborative efforts in Parliament when the winter session commences on December 1.

The Congress's resolve comes after the RJD-Congress coalition faced a significant defeat in the recent Bihar elections, sparking doubts about the future of the opposition alliance. The Congress party, which contested 61 seats, managed to win only six, a performance widely regarded as one of its weakest in the state in recent years. The party's campaign, spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi and focused on allegations of "vote chori," failed to resonate with voters.

Speculation regarding the Congress party potentially contesting future elections independently in states like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh has also been refuted. Venugopal dismissed these claims as baseless, emphasizing the party's unwavering dedication to the INDIA bloc.

Several Congress leaders have emphasized the intrinsic value of the alliance to the party's political strategy. The party is preparing to contest elections in Tamil Nadu as a junior partner to the DMK and intends to participate in future Assam polls as part of an already established coalition.

Venugopal clarified that while municipal and panchayat elections involve local decisions regarding alliances based on local political realities, the primary objective remains to defeat the BJP. He cited the upcoming Bombay Municipal Corporation elections as an example, where the Congress might contest separately from its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT), due to local considerations.

TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai stated that the Bihar election results underscored the necessity of strengthening the INDIA bloc across the country. He added that the AICC high command would ultimately decide on seat-sharing and power-sharing arrangements. Senior TNCC leaders suggested that abandoning the DMK alliance was practically impossible and that efforts should be focused on maintaining the INDIA bloc until 2029.

Despite recent setbacks and internal friction, the Congress party is determined to maintain and strengthen the INDIA bloc in its effort to challenge the BJP's dominance in Indian politics.