Gandhi launched<\/a> strong attacks in Parliament and in his rallies on a myriad range of issues. He alleged \u201cthere was a full-scale and systematic assault on the Constitution”, making a small copy of the book as his trademark, which he carried everywhere. Among the other issues raised by Gandhi were how \u201cdemonetisation and GST destroyed MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and benefitted large industrialists”, how Agniveer scheme was about treating soldiers as \u201cuse\u2011and\u2011throw labourer”, NEET-UG, Hindus, handling of China and foreign policy. Then came his fiercest attack on the Election Commission (EC) after the Maharashtra and Haryana results. He said the poll body was indulging in vote chori and then accused the EC of deleting voters\u2019 names through SIR.<\/p>\nThe entry of his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, after the Wayanad bypolls, further emboldened him.<\/p>\n
3 MAJOR LOSSES BEFORE BIHAR: HOW INDIA BLOC PERFORMED IN STATE POLLS IN 2024<\/h2>\n
The Lok Sabha post-poll energy proved to be short-lived, as the INDIA bloc lost three major elections. <\/em><\/p>\nMaharashtra: <\/strong>The opposition alliance or the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which included Congress, Sharad Pawar\u2019s NCP-SP, and Shiv Sena (UBT), won only 46 seats against BJP+ group or Mahayuti\u2019s 230 out of 288.<\/p>\nHaryana:<\/strong> In a shocker for the Congress, the INDIA bloc won only 37 seats against BJP\u2019s 48.<\/p>\nDelhi:<\/strong> While the BJP won 48 of the 70 seats, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 22 seats and Congress won 0. Beyond the numbers, the poll mattered as Congress was seen making attempts to eat into AAP votes. Many in the Congress termed attacking an ally fair, justifying it with arguments that formation of the AAP itself was on anti-Congress plank and that state polls were different than Lok Sabha.<\/p>\nSome consolation came in the form of Jharkhand where the INDIA bloc (JMM, Congress, RJD and CPI\u2011(ML) Liberation) won 56 out of 81 seats. In Jammu & Kashmir, INDIA-aligned alliance (NC + Congress + CPI(M) + JKNPP) won 49 of the 90 seats. In mid\u20112024, in bypolls across 7 states, the INDIA bloc won 10 out of 13 assembly seats. <\/p>\n
INDIA ALLIES\u2019 REACTION TO BIHAR<\/h2>\n
Bihar has turned out to be the strongest jolt for the bloc. While the Opposition leaders did not comment on PM\u2019s remark on Congress immediately, their actions spoke louder.<\/p>\n
Sources told CNN-News18 <\/a>that the Congress had sought a meeting before upcoming Parliament session to press its \u201cvote chori” (vote theft) narrative following the Bihar result. However, key allies such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) reportedly showed little interest in joining that effort. The message to Congress, according to sources, was that it can no longer assume leadership of the INDIA bloc.<\/p>\nThen came a rather public blow. The Shiv Sena (UBT)<\/a>, which was very much in favour of the INDIA bloc since its formation, given that the party had also formed a government in Maharashtra which destroyed Uddhav Thackeray\u2019s party and politics, mocked the Congress after it recently announced it will go solo in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. In an editorial in their mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena accused the Congress of flaunting its \u201cnational party” credentials in a bid to reassert relevance, even as its performance falters.<\/p>\nWHAT CONGRESS MAY DO NEXT<\/h2>\n
\u201cThere seems to be no need for the INDIA bloc alliance. Gandhis <\/a>also feel that the bloc is over. State-level seat-sharing can be decided as and when needed,” sources told News18.<\/p>\n\n