NEW DELHI: Fissures within the Indian bloc appeared to widen on Wednesday after the Shiv Sena (UBT) asked the opposition alliance to “wake up” and hold discussions ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in several states.In an editorial by the party’s mouthpiece Samana He said that the coalition should not wait for the announcement of the elections to coordinate its strategy. The piece is titled “Confusion of internal voices, Mamata, Stalin or someone else?’ He stressed that multiple internal voices were beginning to emerge within the grand old party.
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“Once the elections are announced, the India bloc should certainly wake up and have discussions. But more than that, the wisdom lies in taking vigilant collective decisions,” the article titled ‘Confusion of Internal Voices, Mamata, Stalin or Someone Else?’ He reads.“Mahatma Gandhi was the supreme leader of both the Congress party and the nation. Gandhi had an inner voice guiding his decisions, honed in spirituality, patriotism and selflessness. Today, several ‘inner voices’ have emerged within the Congress party, creating confusion. This is not a healthy sign for the country. With the National Assembly elections approaching in five states, these inner voices have added to the chaos.”
He added that the statements of Mani Shankar Aiyar, Sanjaya Baru, Bhupen Bora and others appeared at inappropriate times, which complicated matters for the Congress.The article also cited a recent opinion piece by Sanjaya Baru, in which he suggested handing over the leadership of the India bloc to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.Aiyar noted that a Congress victory in Kerala would be difficult, citing party divisions, and suggested that Pinarayi Vijayan return as chief minister.
His comments left Congress uneasy. Although Aiyar remains a Gandhi, Nehruv and Rajiv loyalist, he made it clear that he is “not Rahulvadi”. Amid this, Sanjaya Baru proposed handing over the leadership of the Indian alliance to Mamata Banerjee, arguing that she is better placed to lead the opposition forces.“At around the same time, Aiyar suggested Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin for the role, citing his strong defense of regional parties.
Whatever the case, the question of leadership within the India alliance has resurfaced. After the Lok Sabha elections, what exactly happened to the alliance? This remains a sensitive question.Earlier, Sanjaya Baru, who served as media advisor to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had said that “new ideas should” lead or manage the India bloc.He said that as the only woman currently heading a political party and government, Mamata Banerjee stands apart from the current generation of leaders at the national and regional levels.In 2026, Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in four states and one union territory – West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce the official schedule soon.
