The Shiv Sena UBT, in its editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana on Monday, once again targeted the Congress party and raised doubts about the future of the INDIA alliance. The editorial criticized the Congress for its inability to maintain the unity of the opposition alliance, emphasizing that regional parties need to assert their role and strength while Congress continues to fail in several states.
The editorial stated that the general public perceives the INDIA alliance and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra as “a mess” due to lack of coordination and leadership. It called out Congress for being unprepared to fight independently in many states, while regional parties, on the other hand, need to come together to stay united in their electoral battles.
Shiv Sena UBT Leader Sanjay Raut’s Concerns
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut echoed similar concerns last week regarding the INDIA bloc’s future, aligning his views with National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who also expressed dissatisfaction with the opposition alliance’s coordination. Raut pointed out that since the successful outcome of the Lok Sabha elections, no strategic meetings or discussions have taken place to determine the future direction of the alliance.
Raut agreed with Abdullah’s assessment, stating, “I agree with what Omar Abdullah said. We fought the Lok Sabha elections together and the results were also good. After that, it was the responsibility of all of us, especially Congress, to keep the INDIA alliance alive and show the way forward.”
However, Raut lamented the absence of any meetings or coordination among alliance members since the elections. He noted, “Till now, not a single such meeting has taken place after the Lok Sabha elections. This is not right for the INDIA alliance.”
Growing Concerns Among Alliance Leaders
Raut also pointed out that key opposition leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and Arvind Kejriwal have voiced similar concerns about the alliance’s future. Leaders from various parties have reportedly stated that the INDIA alliance has lost its relevance.
Raut warned that if the alliance were to disband, it could result in a permanent split. He placed the responsibility squarely on Congress for the alliance’s potential collapse, stating, “If such a feeling comes in the minds of the people, then the biggest party of the alliance, Congress, is responsible for this. There is no coordination, no discussion, no dialogue.”