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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.

OBCs, political parties hail SC order on Local Polls

Mumbai: Political parties and OBC groups in the state heartily welcomed the Supreme Court order on conducting the long-pending local bodies’ elections on the existing OBC quotas within four months in Maharashtra.


OBC leaders like Prof. Laxman S. Hake, Chhagan Bhujbal, Congress state President Harshwardhan Sapkal, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) state chief Jayant Patil, Dr. Amol Kolhe, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders and others reacted to the SC interim verdict.


“We are very happy as the existing (27%) quotas between 1994-2022 have been sustained. The Jayant K. Banthia Commission had made its recommendations even without a proper survey, and we wonder how it arrived at its conclusions. Now it has been set aside and the elections have been ordered,” Prof. Hake told The Perfect Voice.


“This is a huge success in our endeavour for OBC political reservations. Through ex-MP Sameer Bhujbal, the Akhil Bharatiya Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad had filed the petition in SC to save the cause. We are pleased by the apex court decision. It is crucial for the political existence of the OBC nomadic communities,” said an elated Bhujbal.


Sapkal has said that the state government should now hold these elections without any delay and without finding any loopholes to bring back the former glory of the posts of corporator, mayor, and speaker.


He said that the 73rd Constitutional Amendment implemented the Panchayat Raj system, leading to decentralization of power, plus resulting in division of power among the Corporators, mayor and others.


“This continued well, but the local bodies elections were not held for the past few years as the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in the state and Centre wanted all the power in their own hands. After the SC’s verdict, the state government should forthwith announce the elections to give back power to the people,” urged Sapkal.


Patil said that the local bodies polls were not held for the past 3 years, but now the SC’s interim order will pave the way for the elections which are essential for all political parties and their workers.


“The polls will be held subject to the final order of SC regarding OBC quotas. It has also allowed the State Election Commission liberty to seek extension of time if needed. We hope that the state government will not push back the elections through the SEC,” averred Patil.


Hake added that the Centre’s announcement to conduct a Caste Census would not affect the OBCs quotas in elections.


SC: Ensure grassroots democracy

In a much-anticipated order, the SC division bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. K. Singh directed the Maharashtra government to conduct the local bodies elections which are pending since 2022 following litigation pertaining to implementing the OBCs quotas. The SC’s interim order directed the polls to be held as per the OBC reservations which existed prior to the Banthia Commission report (July 2022), to notify the polls process within four weeks and complete it within four months, to ensure and respect democracy at the grassroots level as enshrine in the Constitution.


Justice Kant and Justice Singh granted liberty to the SEC to seek an extension of time if necessary, and said that polls will be subject to the outcome of the bunch of petitions challenging the Banthia Commission though the order would not prejudice the contentions of the political parties.

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