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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

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...

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 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.

Govt targets multiple goals in one attempt

Mumbai: Though paying respects to Maharani Ahilyadevi Holkar on the occasion of her tri-centenary is said to be the sole purpose of the meeting of the council of ministers to be held at Ahilyanagar on Tuesday, internal sources cite socio-political issues pertaining to the core voter base of Mahayuti as the real reason behind the meeting.


The Shiv Sena-BJP government of 1995 started the tradition of holding cabinet meetings in different parts of the state in order to send a message of its commitment to the development of those areas. Successive governments continued with the practice so much so that it has now become a tradition of sorts. However, the Mahayuti Cabinet’s Ahilyanagar meeting assumes significance as it is be the first Cabinet meeting to be held in the district by any party or coalition’s government in Maharashtra so far.


Also, it is a sort of reaffirmation to the coalition’s commitment which they demonstrated in 2023 in the form of renaming Ahmednagar district to Ahilyanagar to honour the Queen.


The decision taken ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls was part of its strategy to appeal to the Dhangar community, and also to signal its position against Muslim rulers. Moreover, it was part of the BJP’s plan to keep its core voter base within the Dhangar community intact.


Though Ahilyadevi Holkar is highly revered among all castes and communities, present-day Holkars belong to the Dhangar community. The community, numbering at nine per cent of the state population, is a significant vote bank. In terms of electoral politics, Dhangars play a decisive role in seven to nine Lok Sabha seats and 35 to 40 Assembly constituencies.


Ahilyadevi was born in Chondi village in May 1725. That too is the reason why the district and the city were named after her.


Dhangar reservation

Moreover, the BJP had promised reservation to Dhangars under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category in 2012-13. However, it remains unfulfilled even though the state government has earmarked welfare schemes and funds for the Dhangar community. The non-fulfilment of promises has shaken the BJP’s base within Dhangar community and some leaders, like Mahadeo Jankar, are said to have started searching for other options in the Indi alliance. By holding the cabinet meeting at Ahilyanagar, the BJP wants to send out a message to all such leaders that it is aware of its promises and it shall pursue the cause.


State Legislative Council chairman Ram Shinde and Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, both hail from the Ahilyanagar district. The two BJP leaders have been engaged in the preparations for the Cabinet meeting form almost about a month. The Public Works Department had issued a Rs 1.5 crore tender to make arrangements and build basic infrastructure in Chondi for the meeting.


However, it was embroiled in controversy after a newspaper misinterpreted it to be Rs 150 crore tender. More than the opposition’s attempt to target the government over such issues, the Mahayuti alliance parties appear to be more worried about the factionalism within the district units. The meeting is expected to reaffirm status of existing leadership and thereby give a breather to the state leadership until the local body elections expected later this year.

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