Srinagar: National Conference Vice-President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed his concern over the internal disputes within the Opposition alliance INDIA, calling the situation "unfortunate."
"It is unfortunate that the condition of the INDIA Alliance is not strong right now. There are some internal fights which should not be there, especially in the four to five states where there are elections," said the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister. He went on to emphasize that the rifts within the alliance are detrimental, particularly considering the upcoming state elections.
Omar Abdullah further stated, "The way the fight between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress surfaced, with both parties stating that they will contest all seats in UP, this is not good for the INDIA alliance. Maybe we will meet again after the state elections. We will try to sit and work together."
The INDIA alliance, consisting of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), has been experiencing internal discord over seat-sharing arrangements for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in 2023.
The relationship between the SP and the Congress has been strained in recent times, with Akhilesh Yadav expressing dissatisfaction with the seat-sharing strategy for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly election. The SP had hoped to form an alliance to challenge the BJP government in the state. However, no such alliance has materialized, and Yadav has publicly criticized the Congress ally, calling it a "betrayal."
On October 21, the SP chief stated that the Congress should make it clear if they do not wish to align with the Samajwadis. He vowed that the SP would not discuss an alliance again and would prepare to challenge the BJP independently. The ongoing tension between the SP and Congress raises doubts about the future of the INDIA bloc ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In the midst of this discord, the SP has continued to announce its list of candidates for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, with a total of 33 candidates announced so far. The Congress, on the other hand, has revealed its candidates for 229 seats. The developments within the alliance will be closely watched as they have the potential to impact the political landscape in the lead-up to the elections.
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