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‘Can’t win on its own’: Congress faces barbs from allies for ignoring INDIA parties in assembly elections | India News
NEW DELHI: The Congress, which had ignored its INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) allies right through the assembly elections, is now at the receiving end of their barbs after the grand old party’s humiliating show in the three key states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) took a swipe at the Congress and said it is clear that the main opposition party is unable to win on its own.
JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi said the results of assembly polls in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are a defeat of the Congress and a win for the BJP, noting that the opposition INDIA bloc was missing in the elections. The Congress never invited or consulted any of its allies in the INDIA bloc even though socialist parties have historically had a presence in these states, he said, attacking the party’s leadership of calling off a proposed rally on the opposition alliance in Bhopal in the run up to the elections.
“It is very necessary now for everyone to strengthen the INDIA bloc. If the alliance meeting was called a couple of months earlier, it would have been good,” he said.
Another INDIA ally Omar Abdullah also took a dig at the Congress for ignoring the alliance partners.
Omar Abdullah said the Congress’ claims in the state elections proved otherwise since the party was able to win only in Telangana.
“BJP should be congratulated because we were not expecting this result. We were hearing from our allies that in Chhattisgarh, the Congress would come to power easily, they would win in Madhya Pradesh as well, they were confident in Telangana and they were even saying that in the end they will come out victorious in Rajasthan as well. When the results came out, only their claim in Telangana stood true. Neither could they save Chhattisgarh, nor win back Madhya Pradesh nor could they win in Rajasthan again,” he said.
Speaking on the performance of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Abdullah said that the Congress should have given some seats to its INDIA bloc partner, Samajwadi Party to contest.
“Either the Congress has not been able to understand the ground situation in Madhya Pradesh. What harm could have happened if they had given 5-7 seats to Akhilesh Yadav. What storm could have blown? What have they won now? The results are in front of everyone now,” he said.
The National Conference leader expressed disappointment at the future of the INDIA bloc.
“Judging the results of INDIA alliance in the state elections, if the situation is like this in the future, we cannot win. On December 6, the Congress chief has invited some INDIA alliance leaders for lunch. They recalled the INDIA alliance after three months. Let’s see,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the outcome of the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections would have been different had the Congress shared some seats with constituents of the INDIA bloc.
He also said the grand old party should revisit its outlook towards allies recalling that it was Kamal Nath who had opposed sharing of seats with Samajwadi Party during elections.
“It is my clear opinion that the Madhya Pradesh elections should have been contested as INDIA alliance. Had some seats been shared with the alliance parties, such as Akhilesh’s party, (Samajwadi Party), the Congress would have fared far better. His (Akhilesh’s) party has good support in some areas, including some 10-12 seats known as the strongholds of the party. It was Kamal Nath who opposed sharing of seats with him (Akhilesh),” he told reporters.
(With inputs from agencies)
JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi said the results of assembly polls in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are a defeat of the Congress and a win for the BJP, noting that the opposition INDIA bloc was missing in the elections. The Congress never invited or consulted any of its allies in the INDIA bloc even though socialist parties have historically had a presence in these states, he said, attacking the party’s leadership of calling off a proposed rally on the opposition alliance in Bhopal in the run up to the elections.
“It is very necessary now for everyone to strengthen the INDIA bloc. If the alliance meeting was called a couple of months earlier, it would have been good,” he said.
Another INDIA ally Omar Abdullah also took a dig at the Congress for ignoring the alliance partners.
Omar Abdullah said the Congress’ claims in the state elections proved otherwise since the party was able to win only in Telangana.
“BJP should be congratulated because we were not expecting this result. We were hearing from our allies that in Chhattisgarh, the Congress would come to power easily, they would win in Madhya Pradesh as well, they were confident in Telangana and they were even saying that in the end they will come out victorious in Rajasthan as well. When the results came out, only their claim in Telangana stood true. Neither could they save Chhattisgarh, nor win back Madhya Pradesh nor could they win in Rajasthan again,” he said.
Speaking on the performance of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Abdullah said that the Congress should have given some seats to its INDIA bloc partner, Samajwadi Party to contest.
“Either the Congress has not been able to understand the ground situation in Madhya Pradesh. What harm could have happened if they had given 5-7 seats to Akhilesh Yadav. What storm could have blown? What have they won now? The results are in front of everyone now,” he said.
The National Conference leader expressed disappointment at the future of the INDIA bloc.
“Judging the results of INDIA alliance in the state elections, if the situation is like this in the future, we cannot win. On December 6, the Congress chief has invited some INDIA alliance leaders for lunch. They recalled the INDIA alliance after three months. Let’s see,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the outcome of the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections would have been different had the Congress shared some seats with constituents of the INDIA bloc.
He also said the grand old party should revisit its outlook towards allies recalling that it was Kamal Nath who had opposed sharing of seats with Samajwadi Party during elections.
“It is my clear opinion that the Madhya Pradesh elections should have been contested as INDIA alliance. Had some seats been shared with the alliance parties, such as Akhilesh’s party, (Samajwadi Party), the Congress would have fared far better. His (Akhilesh’s) party has good support in some areas, including some 10-12 seats known as the strongholds of the party. It was Kamal Nath who opposed sharing of seats with him (Akhilesh),” he told reporters.
(With inputs from agencies)
