Mallikarjun Kharge
After extensive discussions, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has been selected as the chairperson of the opposition bloc INDIA, according to sources. While an official announcement from the INDIA bloc is pending, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, another contender for the top post, suggested during today’s meeting that someone from Congress should assume charge.
Mallikarjun to lead INDIA alliance
Despite this decision, the INDIA bloc faces multiple challenges, with seat-sharing among the participating parties being a significant unresolved issue. The INDIA bloc, composed of opposition parties, including Congress, has united to counter the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to prevent a third consecutive term for the NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In Uttar Pradesh, strained relations between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are evident due to the former’s reluctance to share seats in the assembly elections. The state party chief, Kamal Nath, refused to honour the central leadership’s commitment to six seats in the state, leading to public disagreements and the Congress’s defeat in the three heartland states.
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The seat-sharing discussion with AAP is also proving contentious for Congress, as the party seeks four seats in Delhi and seven in Punjab. However, AAP is unwilling to comply, aspiring for a larger share of seats in both Delhi and Punjab. AAP also expresses interest in contesting in Goa, Haryana, and Gujarat, further complicating the negotiation process, as per sources.
