Internal Disagreements Over Alliance Strategy
Sonia Gandhi reportedly rejected suggestions made by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh during a recent Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting regarding the party’s handling of Nitish Kumar’s departure from the INDIA bloc in 2024.
According to reports cited by Mathrubhumi, Singh argued that the political landscape would have been significantly different if Kumar had remained within the alliance. However, Gandhi reportedly countered this view by asserting that Kumar was likely to leave regardless of the circumstances. She stated that he did not wish to remain with the INDIA bloc and had been actively looking for a way to exit.
Gandhi reportedly told the meeting that it was ultimately better for Kumar to depart when he did, rather than staying in a position of tension. Her assessment was backed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who described Kumar’s reported interest in becoming the INDIA bloc’s convenor as a “charade.”
Kharge reportedly noted that Kumar had earlier informed him that he wanted to remain active in Bihar politics while simultaneously supporting the INDIA bloc at the national level. This dual expectation was viewed by party leadership with skepticism, reinforcing their stance on the necessity of the split.
The Timeline of Nitish Kumar’s Departure
Nitish Kumar formally left the INDIA bloc on January 28, 2024, when he resigned as chief minister of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar. In doing so, he returned to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Reports at the time suggested that differences over seat-sharing and the delay in appointing a convenor contributed to Kumar’s decision to leave.
There were also reports of growing differences between Kumar and other INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress. After leaving the alliance, Kumar said he had been disappointed by the lack of progress within the INDIA bloc and felt that other members were not doing enough. He stated that the alliance had failed to meet his expectations and that the situation was creating dissatisfaction within his own party.
The political dynamics shifted after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal proposed Mallikarjun Kharge as the INDIA bloc’s chairman and potential prime ministerial face for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Despite these developments, Kumar subsequently returned to the NDA ahead of the general election.
ECI Row and Digvijaya Singh's Remarks
The controversy surrounding Singh’s comments has intensified amid an ongoing row with the Election Commission of India (ECI). Singh’s remarks have been interpreted by some as a critique of the current leadership’s strategy, while others view them as an attempt to rewrite history regarding the alliance’s fragmentation.
Sonia Gandhi’s rejection of Singh’s perspective during the CWC meeting signals a unified front within the Congress party regarding the assessment of Kumar’s exit. The leadership appears determined to maintain that the decision was necessary for the long-term stability of the INDIA bloc, despite internal dissent.