13 January,2025 01:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sanjay Raut. File Pic
Amid speculation of internal discord within the INDIA alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said on Monday that, in the coming days, if the INDIA alliance has to be saved and strengthened, dialogue between alliance partners is necessary, reported news agency ANI.
Speaking to the media, Raut said, "INDIA alliance should be strong... I don't believe what Omar Abdullah said that the INDIA alliance was formed for Lok Sabha. This alliance was formed for Lok Sabha and we fought well, however after that, no meeting of the INDIA alliance was held, which is unfortunate. This responsibility is of Congress as it is in the role of an elder brother in the alliance... In the coming days, if the INDIA alliance has to be saved and strengthened, then dialogue is necessary between alliance partners."
Raut's remarks came after Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja admitted that the INDIA bloc "stands divided" post-Lok Sabha election 2024.
Speaking to ANI, Raja said, "It is a fact that Opposition is divided. It is known to people that in Delhi. Assembly election AAP is contesting on its own, Congress is contesting on its own, Left parties are contesting wherever they are capable of putting up a fight and among other parties, certain parties have declared support to AAP. So, it is a fact that the INDIA bloc stands divided."
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Several BJP leaders have also claimed that the INDIA alliance has 'no mission' and is 'scattered.'
On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the INDIA bloc, claiming that the alliance has 'completely disintegrated,' citing examples of the alliance not fighting the Delhi assembly polls and Mumbai municipal corporation polls together.
"Today the INDIA alliance has completely disintegrated. Mumbai is going to have elections and Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress are preparing to contest alone. Just like you gave us a grand victory in Maharashtra, in the same way, the BJP government is going to be formed," HM Shah said.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the alliance lacks a clear mission and is solely driven by personal ambitions and confusion. He also claimed that parties of the INDIA bloc pretend to be united due to their personal ambitions.
Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla said, "The INDIA alliance has no mission, no vision, only personal ambitions and confusion. Due to these ambitions and confusion, they pretend to be united. In Delhi, the Samajwadi Party, TMC, and others have distanced themselves from Congress."
(With inputs from ANI)