In a stark assessment of the opposition's health, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared that the INDIA alliance is currently 'on life support'. He attributed this critical condition to persistent internal conflicts and strategic failures that are crippling its ability to mount a credible challenge to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
A Blunt Diagnosis at the HT Summit
Abdullah delivered his candid remarks on Saturday while speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi. The National Conference leader painted a vivid picture of the opposition bloc's struggles, comparing its state to a patient in critical care. "We're sort of on life support, but every once in a while somebody brings out his paddles and gives us a bit of a shock and we get up again," he said. "But then results like Bihar happen, and we slump down again, and then somebody has to wheel us into the ICU."
He directly linked the alliance's weakened state to the recent assembly election results in Bihar, where the INDIA coalition suffered a significant defeat at the hands of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Abdullah placed the blame squarely on the opposition's own actions, stating, "I believe that we pushed Nitish Kumar back into the arms of the NDA."
Internal Rifts and Strategic Blunders
Abdullah elaborated on the organisational shortcomings plaguing the alliance. He pointed to specific missteps, such as the decision to exclude the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) from the seat-sharing arrangement in Bihar, despite the party having a presence in the state. According to him, this exemplified a broader failure to make cohesive and strategically sound decisions.
He also highlighted a fundamental difference in approach between the BJP and the opposition. "The BJP begins preparing for the next election almost immediately after one ends, while the opposition often starts its preparations only months before polls, sometimes finalising alliances just before the last date for filing nominations," Abdullah observed, underscoring a lack of long-term planning.
Rejecting the 'Fluke' Narrative and BJP's Retort
When questioned if the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was a fluke, Abdullah firmly rejected the suggestion. He argued that the results sent a clear message. "No, I think the country sent a message to the Central government and to Prime Minister Modi in 2024 that things are not as rosy as they were made out to be," he stated.
He did note a positive change in the government's functioning post-2024, saying it has become more consultative. "From calling it a BJP government, they called themselves an NDA government. These are small changes, but they matter," Abdullah added.
The BJP was quick to respond to Abdullah's comments. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Abdullah had "shown a mirror" to the INDIA alliance. In a post on X, Poonawalla wrote that the Congress-led bloc pushed out Nitish Kumar and gave an "unfair deal" to the JMM in Bihar.
He contrasted the two alliances, calling the NDA a "Majboot (strong) alliance full of mission & vision with Modi ji as leader," while labelling the INDIA coalition a "Majboor (helpless) alliance of ambition and corruption with Rahul Baba at helm." Poonawalla also recalled that Abdullah's party had previously taken divergent positions from other INDIA partners on issues like alleged "vote chori."
Abdullah's frank critique lays bare the deep-seated challenges facing the opposition INDIA bloc as it seeks to regroup and present a united front against a politically dominant BJP-led NDA.
