A day after Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the INDIA bloc is “on life support”, fissures within the Opposition alliance came to the fore as several constituents flagged concerns over the lack of coordination and demanded urgent introspection.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) were among the parties calling for the alliance to “re-energise” itself, while the RJD termed Abdullah’s view a “rushed comment”. The PDP accused the National Conference (NC) of using the bloc for electoral gain while supporting the NDA narrative elsewhere.
CPI, Shiv Sena Seek Coordination, Review
CPI general secretary D. Raja said no meeting of the INDIA bloc had been held after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“When secular democratic parties came together, the goal was to save India and defeat the BJP. Why is the bloc not functioning as expected? We need introspection,” he said, adding that lessons must be learnt from the Haryana, Maharashtra and Bihar elections.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi echoed similar concerns, saying no major meeting had taken place after the polls.
“Seat-sharing delays, lack of a common agenda, and friendly fights hurt us in Maharashtra and Bihar,” she said.
RJD, SP Disagree With Abdullah’s Assessment
RJD’s Manoj Jha said sarcastic remarks won’t help.
“If it is on life support, they are also part of it. What efforts are they making to revive it?” he asked.
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai rejected Abdullah’s comment altogether, saying defeats should not demoralise parties fighting “fascist forces”.
PDP Targets NC; Says Abdullah Using Bloc for Votes
PDP leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra accused the NC of using both the INDIA bloc and the PAGD only during elections.
“When he goes outside the State, he supports the NDA Government’s narrative,” he alleged.
BJP, NDA Mock Opposition; Say Alliance Has “Passed Away”
The BJP seized on Abdullah’s remarks, claiming they reflect the Opposition’s crumbling cohesion.
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said:
“The INDI alliance has already passed away, and even its last rites have been performed.”
JD(U)’s Neeraj Kumar said the alliance is “on a ventilator”, while BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the comments amounted to a “slap on Rahul Gandhi’s leadership”.
He added that “after losing 95 elections, the Congress has become a parasitic party”.
Abdullah Defends His Statement at HT Summit
Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Abdullah said the INDIA bloc risks being shifted to the “ICU” due to infighting, organisational failures, and inability to match the BJP’s round-the-clock election machinery.
He outlined strategic shortcomings within the alliance and contrasted them with the BJP’s “unmatched work ethic”.
The Congress has yet to respond officially to Abdullah’s remarks.
