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Samajwadi Party leaders said Akhilesh Yadav has demonstrated both sacrifice and organisational strength, qualities they believe should make him natural leader of the INDIA bloc.
In a direct challenge to Congress’s continued dominance within the alliance, both TMC and SP have reiterated that their respective leaders deserve to be considered for the bloc’s top post. (PTI)
The leadership of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA bloc) has come under intense scrutiny following the alliance’s disappointing performance in the recent Bihar Assembly elections.
Although Mallikarjun Kharge remains the bloc’s official chairman and Rahul Gandhi continues as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, internal rumblings suggest a widening dissatisfaction among key constituents. Calls for a change in leadership have grown louder, with the Samajwadi Party (SP) openly proposing Akhilesh Yadav to lead the coalition.
Samajwadi Party pushes for Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership
The most vocal challenge has emerged from the Samajwadi Party, whose leaders argue that Akhilesh Yadav has demonstrated both sacrifice and organisational strength, the qualities they believe should make him the natural leader of the INDIA bloc.
SP MLA Ravidas Mehrotra told CNN News18 that Akhilesh Yadav “should be made the leader of the INDIA alliance because in the Bihar Assembly elections all the opposition parties have seen how he makes sacrifices for the alliance.”
He highlighted that despite the SP not contesting a single seat in Bihar, Yadav addressed 26 major rallies to bolster the coalition’s campaign.
Mehrotra also criticised the Congress-RJD friction that played out in the form of “friendly fights” on 13 seats, arguing that this undermined the alliance’s credibility. He added that the Congress should have backed the RJD, the largest opposition party in Bihar, instead of competing with it.
Reiterating the SP’s larger strategy for the future, Mehrotra asserted that the party is capable of defeating the BJP on its own in the 2027 Assembly elections. However, he stressed the need for unity: “We want that the non-BJP vote should not get divided, therefore the elections will be fought together.”
Echoing these sentiments, SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand said that workers across the party believe Akhilesh Yadav should take charge of the INDIA bloc. He credited Yadav with stitching the alliance together through padyatras and sustained outreach efforts, calling him “the real leader of the INDIA alliance.” He further argued that the next elections should be fought on the basis of “social capacity” and political capability.
AAP takes dig
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took a sharp dig as discussions around a fractured INDI Alliance intensified. Without naming anyone, the party remarked that “one should not go on vacation in the middle of a campaign,” adding that AAP is neither part of the bloc nor aligned with the Congress. This was a clear jibe at Rahul Gandhi who went on jungle safaris at the Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh on 10 November, even as the Bihar election campaign was underway.
Pointing to Congress’s poor performance in Bihar, AAP said the party “needs the most self-reflection” and questioned why its six seats were considered better than AIMIM’s tally. In July, AAP walked out of the bloc.
BJP says INDIA alliance is ‘finished’
The BJP has been quick to seize on the INDIA bloc’s internal tensions. Pradeep Bhandari of the BJP posted on X that the alliance had effectively collapsed, invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s prediction that opposition leaders would eventually question Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. Bhandari described the situation as a “trailer” of the Congress potentially splitting into two, adding that Gandhi had been “rejected by Opposition members.”
What Congress said?
Amid the criticism, Congress leaders have sought to project unity within the INDIA bloc. Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput dismissed talk of disintegration, stating, “In our INDIA Alliance all are in leadership position and we are one.” He contrasted this with the NDA, arguing that decision-making in the ruling coalition rests solely with the BJP.
Earlier, some Trinamool Congress leaders suggested that Mamata Banerjee should lead the alliance.
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Delhi, India, India
November 20, 2025, 08:29 IST
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