The various constituents of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) seem to be working at cross purposes, instead of ensuring that various issues concerning their association, prior to the Parliamentary polls get sorted out, to the satisfaction of all the parties. In Madhya Pradesh for instance where the Aam Aadmi Party has no footprint, and the Congress is the only political outfit that can take on and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party, the AAP has gone ahead and announced its first list of ten nominees for the Assembly polls. This action gives the impression that like in Gujarat, the AAP is more keen on helping the BJP, instead of defeating it and thus is determined to make things difficult for the Congress. It is another story, that so far Madhya Pradesh is concerned, AAP can do little to upset the head on confrontation the two national parties are likely to have with each other. But the question is about the intent and seriousness of the matter. It is most likely that Arvind Kejriwal may have given his consent to his Madhya Pradesh unit to announce the names, in order to put pressure on the grand old party at other places, where the alliance could be worked out. It is a known fact that even within the AAP, there are serious reservations that some leaders have over a tie-up with the Congress. According to unconfirmed reports that emanated from Mumbai after the INDIA conclave, Kejriwal had indicated that the AAP and Congress could contest together in Punjab. The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, did not like this one bit, and contradicted his party Boss by stating that the AAP would be fighting all the 13 seats in the State on its own. An upset Kejriwal asked Raghav Chadha to convey his displeasure to the Chief Minister, who in turn questioned Chadha’s credentials and retorted that in that case, Kejriwal should become the CM of Punjab. Whether this report is true or not is something which the characters involved in this matter can state, but the fact remains that even within the Congress, there are many who are opposed to any such alliance. Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, has clearly stated that his party would be contesting all the seats in Punjab.
The feeling within the Congress rank and file is that the AAP’s popularity was diminishing and the Congress would be able to win several seats on its own, and despite AAP. There is also a section which is waiting for Nitish Kumar, Sharad Pawar or Uddhav Thackeray to give an invitation to the Shromani Akali Dal to join the INDIA alliance. If that happens, the Congress leaders believe that an undeclared understanding with the Akalis on Punjab seats would prove more beneficial. These are games which would be played and it is for the leadership of these parties to iron out these matters. In Delhi also where the AAP has been in power, and the Congress is struggling to make itself politically relevant, many leaders expressed their reservations of tying up with Kejriwal. At a meeting just around the Mumbai Conclave where Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge were present, several leaders expressed their views and stressed on the need to contest the Lok Sabha elections without AAP. Reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi was in favour of those who wished to go it alone and stated that democracy should come into play and the Delhi unit must decide on its own. A four-time MLA who seemed to agree with Kharge’s attempts for an understanding, was apparently taunted by Rahul, who said that there seems to be an AAP person amongst our midst. This was not liked by the former MLA who said so to Rahul while reiterating that he had been a foot soldier of the Congress for over four decades. At this point Rahul said that he was only pulling his leg. It is being said in Congress circles that even Kharge did not like Rahul’s action of seemingly overruling him and later complained to Sonia Gandhi. Mrs Gandhi spoke about the issue with Rahul who later apologized to the Congress president and re-affirmed his faith in his leadership.
The point here is that when Kharge is trying to carry the members of the INDIA alliance together with the Congress, Rahul should refrain from expressing his views openly, and should follow the party line. It is possible that the AAP and Congress dialogue does not have the desired results but this should be allowed to happen at an appropriate time. On the sidelines of Mumbai Conclave, Mamata Banerjee also had a meeting with the Left leaders, Sitaram Yechury and D.Raja. It is said that Raja spoke for 40 minutes and Yechury for over half an hour. When Mamata’s turn came, she cut short the conversation in less than a minute and clearly stated, that the Trinamool would contest all the seats in West Bengal and was not prepared to given any to the Left. At this juncture, Yechury and Raja also got up and said that they were not asking for any seats in the first place. It was expected that the INDIA alliance would have problems but it is in their mutual interests that the leaders of various constituents should work out things as early as possible. The BJP shall continue to ridicule this “unholy alliance’’ but the fact is that even the Saffron Brigade is having its own concerns and anxious moments. The people of India shall give their verdict when the dust settles to provide the country with a government following the Parliamentary polls.