Rift In INDIA Bloc? Congress Rejects Mamata’s Name To Lead Alliance; TMC, SP Skip Parliament Protest

Last Updated:December 03, 2024, 19:03 IST

The BJP took potshots at the INDIA bloc saying the alliance was nothing more than a band of enemies that had come together to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Leaders of the INDIA alliance will be meeting at Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's residence. (File Photo)

The ongoing rift between the parties in the opposition’s Indian Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) seems to be widening as the parties like Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Samajwadi Party (SP) toed a different line over issues related to Adani ‘alleged’ financial scam and functioning of the parliament.

Congress Rejects Mamata’s Name For Bloc Leader

Senior Congress leader Manickam Tagore on Tuesday entirely thrashed the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) proposal of appointing West Bengal Chief Minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the opposition bloc.

On being asked about the TMC’s suggestion, Tagore said, “That’s a good joke."

The proposal for Banerjee’s appointment as INDIA bloc chief was raised by party MP Kirti Azad who said that the Bengal CM was a better face to lead the INDIA bloc and had a perfect record against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA alliance in general and assembly elections.

BJP Flags Rift

The BJP took potshots at the INDIA bloc saying the alliance was nothing more than a band of enemies that had come together to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the barb mainly aimed at the Congress, it said all the opposition allies were unhappy with the Grand Old Party.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya took a jibe at opposition’s unity and said, “Congress MP Manickam Tagore, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, calls TMC’s suggestion that Mamata Banerjee be the I.N.D.I Alliance convener a ‘joke’. The TMC is looking for a job for Mamata Banerjee post 2026 but the Congress is in no mood to oblige. So much for opposition unity."

Earlier, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took a jibe at Congress saying that after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena (UBT), it was now the Samajwadi Party (SP) that was gunning for the Congress.

He had put out a video clip from a podcast interview in which Akhilesh Yadav has claimed how the Congress sent journalists after him in Madhya Pradesh to ask him questions.

TMC, SP Skip Opposition Protest

Earlier today, Banerjee-led TMC and Akhilesh Yadav-led SP skipped the joint opposition protest in the Parliament complex over the Gautam Adani bribery case. While Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and some Congress allies attended the protest, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool leaders were conspicuous by their absence.

As per the reports, both the parties were not on the same lines as the grand-old party. While the TMC wants a discussion on issues like price rise, unemployment, and deprivation of funds to the opposition states, the SP MPs are demanding a debate on the Sambhal violence.

TMC Not Rubber Stamp of Congress, Wants Parliament To Run

Signalling a widening rift in the alliance after the Congress’ massive defeats in the Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections, the TMC has said it will not be a rubber stamp for its ally’s decisions.

Last week, the party had said there is a need to address real issues affecting the people, rather than disrupting both Houses of Parliament over “one issue."

“TMC will sharply focus on ‘people’s issues’ to raise in Parliament," Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, the party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha said, according to news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, a section of opposition MPs walked out of the Lok Sabha as issues like Adani’s indictment and the Sambhal violence continued to mar Parliament proceedings in the winter session.

The Lok Sabha proceedings were washed out last week as well due to protests by the opposition members on the same issues. The winter session of the Parliament commenced on November 25 and would culminate on December 20.

(With inputs from agencies)

News politics Rift In INDIA Bloc? Congress Rejects Mamata’s Name To Lead Alliance; TMC, SP Skip Parliament Protest