Events
Does the I.N.D.I.A. Come to an End With Nitish Kumars Return to the Government-Led Bloc?

By Kajal Sharma - 30 Jan 2024 03:23 PM
The opposition I.N.D.I.A group and the government-led NDA will compete in the April–May Lok Sabha elections.One of the key members of the recently established Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) departed last week to join the state-led coalition in Bihar, casting doubt on the alliance's unity.Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar state and leader of Janata Dal United (JDU), resigned from his position and broke with the Indian National Democratic Alliance (INDIA) before joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar state and leader of Janata Dal United (JDU), resigned from his position and broke with the Indian National Democratic Alliance (INDIA) before joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).On Sunday, he took the oath anew with his newly appointed cabinet for a record-breaking ninth time.The I.N.D.I.A., which aims to bring together non-BJP forces in order to stop the NDA from winning a third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, was formed with Kumar's help.His decision to transfer comes as the coalition is having trouble coming to a consensus on seat distribution and electoral strategy.Impact on I.N.D.I.A.: After declaring his new administration, Kumar voiced his displeasure with the state of affairs within the opposition alliance.
"We formed a new Grand Alliance in August 2022, but it's not doing well. It does not appear positive for the situation. No one else (in the alliance) has been doing anything, despite my tireless efforts to build a strong, meaningful (I.N.D.I.A.) alliance, Kumar told reporters on Sunday.Desh Ratan Nigam, a political analyst, stated to Sputnik India that Kumar's withdrawal from the alliance will erode public perception, which is a crucial factor in elections. "With Mamata Banerjee opting to run for every seat in West Bengal and Punjab state president Bhagwant Mann having already intimated that there will not be any seat sharing in the state, Congress has found itself isolated inside the coalition. In the meantime, Maharashtra has also delineated a distinct battleground, according to Nigam.Similar to his opinions, Shekhar Iyer, another political analyst, told Sputnik India that inconsistencies within the I.N.D.I.A. alliance have surfaced in public. "Apart from Nitish Kumar, a few other opposition bloc members have also identified a number of issues, such as Congress's unilateral actions, the absence of any conversation regarding seat sharing, and the lack of preparations," Iyer stated.