Amid growing differences within the INDIA bloc, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday dropped clear hints suggesting he was also on the verge of splitting ties with the opposition plank. Omar also demanded the INDIA bloc should be disbanded as the opposition parties were not on the same page in the run-up to the Delhi polls.
Acerbic observations made by Omar, a close friend of Rahul Gandhi, have once again sparked speculation over the future of the Congress party in the INDIA bloc.
While both AAP and the Congress are part of the INDIA bloc, the parties are contesting the Delhi polls separately.
Mamta Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress along with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP) have already announced their support to the Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi elections leaving Congress party stranded in the multi-cornered poll battle.
The subtle timing of Abdullah’s remark, a day after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav said the INDIA bloc had lost its significance and was formed specifically for the Lok Sabha polls, has also raised many eyebrows in the power corridors.
“INDIA bloc was formed just for the Lok Sabha elections and to stop the victory march of the BJP. It has no significance now. The bickering between the Congress and the AAP is not unexpected,” the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said.
Reacting to Abdullah’s remark, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the opinion of INDIA bloc allies was not binding on the party. “INDIA bloc allies will not decide what the Congress wants to do in Delhi,” he said.
Abdullah, whose National Conference is part of the INDIA bloc, Thursday said “It is unfortunate that no meeting of the INDIA bloc has taken place. Who will lead? What will be the agenda? How will the alliance move forward? There is no discussion on these issues. There is no clarity on whether we will remain united or not”.
“After the Assembly elections in Delhi, they (INDIA Bloc) should call all the alliance members for a meeting. If this alliance was only for the parliamentary elections, it should be wound up, and we will work separately. But if it is also meant for Assembly elections, we will have to sit together and work collectively,” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a three-day long orientation programme of the newly elected legislators here in Jammu.
In December 2024, When Trinamool Congress leaders started a campaign to aggressively push for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to head the opposition alliance, the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi directed the party’s Lok Sabha MPs not to react to comments of “middle-and low-rung” leaders of INDIA bloc parties.
Replying to another query on increasing support for AAP ahead of next month’s Delhi elections, Omar Abdullah said, “I cannot say anything about this at the moment because we have no involvement with Delhi polls. The Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, and other political parties on the ground will decide how to compete with the BJP strongly.”
Stating that AAP succeeded twice in Delhi previously, Abdullah said, “This time, we will have to wait and see what the people of Delhi decide.”
Meanwhile, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said his party does not intend to “fight” New Delhi to collaborate with the central government to address the pressing issues of Jammu and Kashmir.
Commenting on the unity within the INDIA bloc, Abdullah said the alliance is not just about contesting elections, but it is about strengthening India and eliminating hatred. “The alliance is permanent - it is for every day and every moment.”
“We don’t want to fight New Delhi. We want to work together with Delhi to resolve the state’s problems. We don’t want to engage in battles. Those who want to fight can do so,” the former chief minister told reporters here.
Abdullah said the National Conference has nothing to do with the BJP, but it is the responsibility of the central government to support state governments in addressing local issues. “We are not with the BJP, nor do we have any connection with them,” he said.
Abdullah stressed both the central and state governments should prioritize the needs of the people rather than engaging in conflicts that hinder progress.
Reacting to claims about his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah being influenced by New Delhi, the NC chief said, “Omar Abdullah is elected the chief minister by people. He does not act on anyone’s instructions. He acts on his own decisions. Those who are under this misunderstanding should come out of it.”
