New Delhi: In a move that could potentially reshape the political landscape, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have not dismissed the possibility of the INDIA bloc forming a government. They indicated that the decision to reach out to former allies, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal United (JDU), will be made during an opposition alliance meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
This statement gains significance as the margin between the NDA and the INDIA bloc is a narrow 60 seats, with the NDA at 292 and the INDIA bloc at 232 by 7.30 pm. The BJP has not secured a majority on its own, leading in 240 constituencies, including 62 confirmed wins, as of 6:10 pm. In contrast, Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP holds 16 seats and the JDU has 12.
At a press conference, when questioned about the possibility of forming a government despite the NDA’s majority and the fact that some NDA partners were former Congress allies, Rahul Gandhi responded, “We will discuss this with our INDIA alliance partners at tomorrow’s meeting. We value their opinions and will not make any premature statements.”
Gandhi, who has won his seat in Wayanad for a second time and is leading by a significant margin in Rae Bareli, stated that the collaborative approach of the alliance, saying, “There is a fine line… We will act based on the collective decision of the INDIA alliance.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hinted at potential new alliances. Speaking in Hindi, he said, “We need to consult with our current and potential new partners to strategize for a majority. Revealing our plans prematurely would only alert Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Reports suggest that members of the INDIA bloc, particularly Sharad Pawar, have reached out to Naidu and Nitish Kumar, although Pawar has denied these claims. The TDP-BJP alliance, formed just before the elections, has been a subject of speculation, with experts suggesting that Naidu might switch allegiance if the INDIA bloc offers more advantages. The TDP was part of the United Progressive Alliance in 2019.
Nitish Kumar’s recent association with Congress is also notable. He played a crucial role in forming the INDIA bloc before rejoining the NDA in January. Kumar had previously severed ties with the BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections due to the party’s endorsement of Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate.