New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to be the chairperson of the INDIA bloc, with leaders of major parties of the alliance arriving at a consensus on his name Saturday, ThePrint has learnt.
This comes as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar “withdrew” his name from the race to become the alliance’s convener, citing a lack of consensus, sources in the alliance told ThePrint, adding that he would consider the post only when there was consensus.
Kharge was picked as the chairman of the alliance during a meeting of prominent leaders of the INDIA bloc held virtually. Kumar, who was reappointed the president of the Janata Dal (United) last month, was also in attendance when his name was proposed by parties, including the Congress, as convener.
An Opposition leader told ThePrint that Kumar felt that there was no unanimity on his candidature, particularly since West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav did not even attend the meeting citing pre-scheduled events.
“When one person in the meeting pointed this out, Kumar got upset. He said there was no point discussing his possible role as convener as not everyone among the allies was on board. He said such things should be discussed only when there was a consensus,” the Opposition leader said.
Kumar, however, insisted that a Congress leader should be the chairperson of the alliance, following which it was decided that Kharge take that post. The decision has not been officially announced yet.
Saturday’s virtual meeting was attended by Kharge, Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal. Nationalist Congress Party’s Sharad Pawar, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Tamil Nadu CM and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M.K. Stalin.
Kumar, and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, along with Prasad’s son and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, also joined from Patna via video link.
Following the meeting, Bihar minister and JD (U) leader Sanjay Jha said Kumar proposed that Congress take up the role of the chair. But he remained tight-lipped about the Bihar CM turning down the offer to become the INDIA convener.
The INDIA bloc, which first met in Patna in June, is a pre-poll alliance of 28 Opposition parties that plan to take on the BJP-led NDA in the general election due this year. The alliance has since held conclaves in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi in July, September, and December.
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‘Seat-sharing talks progressing in a positive way’
Despite four in-person meetings, and several held virtually — including the one Saturday — the parties in the INDIA bloc are far from sealing seat-sharing pacts, said sources. Also, a consensus on the convener’s name continues to elude the alliance.
In the Delhi meeting, Banerjee and Kejriwal proposed that Kharge be made the convener, and the prime ministerial face of the alliance — a move that had reportedly not gone down well with Kumar, who has been described by the JD(U) in its political resolution passed last month as the architect of INDIA.
The JD(U) resolution also hailed Kumar’s experience in running coalitions, even in “adverse circumstances”. It added: “The JD(U) believes that the bigger parties in the alliance have greater responsibilities. If this alliance has to be successful, the bigger parties must show a big heart. They have to be generous if a leader with experience and capacity to work is to be entrusted with responsibility. Small differences will have to be put aside for the sake of unity”.
Meanwhile, following Saturday’s meeting, Kharge posted on social media platform X (previously Twitter) that “everyone is happy that the seat-sharing talks are progressing in a positive way. “The Congress National Alliance Committee led by senior party leader Mukul Wasnik has been in talks with parties including the AAP, RJD, JDU, NCP, and Shiv Sena (UBT) to work out seat-sharing.
Leaders of INDIA Coordination Commitee today met online and had a fruitful discussion on the alliance.
Everyone is happy that the seat sharing talks are progressing in a positive way.
We also discussed about joint programs in the coming days by INDIA Parties.
I, along with…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 13, 2024
Kharge added that the meeting discussions were also held on “joint programs in the coming days by INDIA Parties. I, along with Rahul Gandhi ji invited all INDIA Parties to join ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ at their convenience and use the opportunity to raise the social, political, and economic issues plaguing common people of this country.”
Gandhi is set to embark on the east-west ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ from Manipur’s Thoubal Sunday. Kharge will flag off the yatra, which, after crossing 14 states, is sent to conclude in Mumbai on 20 March.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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