Sanjay Raut, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament, emphasized the importance of a distinct leadership figure within the I.N.D.I.A. alliance. On Wednesday, he clarified that the JD(U) had not made any demands to be the convenor of the alliance. Raut mentioned that if such a proposal were put forth by JD(U), the alliance members would discuss it during the upcoming bloc meeting. However, he insisted that there should be a recognized face for the alliance, affirming that any candidate gaining approval from the alliance members could assume the role of the face, whether for the position of Prime Minister or leadership.
Raut revealed that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc meeting originally scheduled for December 6 had been postponed due to the unavailability of key leaders. He informed the media that the meeting would now take place on December 16 or 18.
Explaining the reasons for the delay, Raut mentioned the prior commitments of several leaders. Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar were engaged in activities in Delhi, Mamataji hosted an event at her residence, Stalinji focused on the flood situation in Tamil Nadu, Akhileshji was unavailable, Nitish Kumar faced health issues, and other leaders had their respective programs. Taking these factors into consideration, Raut stated the decision to reschedule the meeting.
Addressing the issue of leadership within the I.N.D.I..A bloc, Raut clarified, “No one has expressed a desire to shoulder the entire responsibility of the alliance’s leadership. We are committed to fighting collectively as the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, and the impact of our collaboration will be evident in 2024. A discussion on the leadership face is imminent. There should indeed be a face, and if anyone within the I.N.D.I.A. alliance gains the approval, they can assume that role.” He added, “There is no demand from anyone to lead the I.N.D.I.A. alliance or be its Prime Ministerial face.”