Congress-Left Rift Exposes Power Games

New Delhi: Cracks widen in I.N.D.I.A. alliance as Congress and Left clash in Kerala/West Bengal polls, prioritizing state power over ideology. History of flip-flops fuels accusations of cynical opportunism, eroding public trust amid national unity facade. Ahead of the Kerala and West Bengal assembly elections, cracks have emerged between the Congress and Left parties, with both gearing up to clash head-on in the electoral arena. The echoes of this rift reverberated in a recent meeting of...

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New Delhi: Cracks widen in I.N.D.I.A. alliance as Congress and Left clash in Kerala/West Bengal polls, prioritizing state power over ideology. History of flip-flops fuels accusations of cynical opportunism, eroding public trust amid national unity facade. Ahead of the Kerala and West Bengal assembly elections, cracks have emerged between the Congress and Left parties, with both gearing up to clash head-on in the electoral arena. The echoes of this rift reverberated in a recent meeting of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance's parliamentary parties. The Marxist Communist Party (CPI(M)) openly targeted Congress's biggest leader, Leader of opposition in Parliament Rahul Gandhi, exposing deep tensions. Whether it's the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. alliance or the earlier United Progressive Alliance (UPA), history shows Congress has always fought elections against CPI(M) in Kerala and West Bengal assembly polls. What kind of political ideology is this, where parties unite for Lok Sabha elections but turn adversaries in state assembly contests? This naturally begs the question that in this game of alliances, are Congress, the Left, and other I.N.D.I.A. bloc constituents indulging in opportunistic politics driven by a thirst for power? Are they playing tricks on the public just to grab the throne? If their alliances were rooted in ideology, they would stick together from Lok Sabha to assembly elections, united by principle. Flash point The flashpoint came during an I.N.D.I.A. bloc parliamentary meeting in Kerala, originally called to strategize for the Parliament session and forge a united opposition front against the central government. But the discussion swiftly pivoted to escalating differences between Congress and the Left. CPI(M) MPs took strong exception to Rahul Gandhi's recent statement during a Kerala visit, where he accused central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of targeting opposition leaders but sparing Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In West Bengal, a senior Congress leader revealed the central leadership's calculus that with little to lose, going solo is the smarter play. Post-alliance breakup with the Left, focus shifts to bolstering vote share, not seat-sharing math. TMC and BJP are expected to dominate anyway. After days of silence, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby accused Congress of drifting from a broad anti-communal unity, insisting his party favors collaboration with like-minded forces but slamming Congress's stance as isolationist. The analysis Political analysts warn this split could fragment opposition votes, benefiting TMC. Yet they don't rule out informal grassroots understandings between left and congress. In both states, ditching the alliance lets Congress and the Left campaign comfortably, dodging awkward questions from voters. In Kerala, the Left has held power for two straight terms since 2021, breaking a decades-old pattern of alternating every five years between Left and Congress. Riding an anti-incumbency wave, Congress and Rahul Gandhi now eye a comeback, launching direct attacks on CPI(M). This has irked the Left, whose survival hinges solely on Kerala. If we look at the political background, the I.N.D.I.A. alliance was formed mainly to create a united strategy against the BJP-led NDA. In several states, opposition parties are trying to contest elections together. Electoral processes, unemployment, inflation, and concerns over constitutional institutions are part of the opposition's shared agenda. Watching this alliance charade ahead of Lok Sabha and assembly polls, the public is baffled that What's the real basis of these tie-ups? Do parties form and break them for keeping in mind the interests of leaders and parties, or based on ideology? Do they consider the welfare of the people and the nation's interests in doing so? Is coalition politics just opportunism masquerading as strategy? Voters deserve answers-will I.N.D.I.A.'s flip-flops erode trust, or can they justify this as pragmatic realism? Until then, the stench of power hunger lingers.

First posting, first rank

Dr. Abhilash Dawre
May 1, 2025
2 min read

Manisha Awhale leads statewide governance challenge

Ulhasnagar: In a remarkable display of administrative efficiency and leadership, Ulhasnagar Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awhale has secured the top rank across Maharashtra in the state government’s ambitious 100-day governance reform campaign. Despite serving less than 90 days in her role, Awhale earned an impressive 86.29% score, outperforming all other municipal commissioners in the state.

The results of the state-wide campaign were officially announced on Thursday, May 1, by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis through a social media post. The campaign aimed to accelerate administrative reforms and evaluate the performance of various departments and officers across Maharashtra, covering 48 key divisions including municipal corporations, district administrations, and police departments.

Manisha Awhale, a young and dynamic IAS officer, was appointed as Ulhasnagar’s Municipal Commissioner in January this year—her very first posting. The governance reform drive coincided with the beginning of her tenure, giving her less than the full 100-day window. Nonetheless, she led significant improvements in municipal administration within a short span.

Awhale revitalized her team by overcoming bureaucratic inertia and fostering a culture of responsiveness and service. Her efforts focused on streamlining operations and enhancing public service delivery, which played a crucial role in her top ranking.

Acknowledging the accolade, Awhale credited her success to the collective efforts of the entire Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation staff. “This recognition belongs to the team. Without their support, such progress wouldn’t have been possible in such a short time,” she said.

Alongside municipal commissioners, the evaluation recognized top performers among five departmental secretaries, five commissioners, five district collectors, five police superintendents, five Zilla Parishad CEOs, three police commissioners, two divisional commissioners, and two inspectors general of police.

Awhale’s outstanding performance has drawn widespread appreciation from across the administrative and political spectrum.

1 Comment

Maggie mohite

May 01, 2025

Excellent job Manisha Mam