Kolkata/New Delhi, June 8: West Bengal minister and senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh launched a sharp attack on the opposition INDIA bloc ahead of its key meeting in New Delhi, claiming that the alliance has effectively ceased to exist and questioning its unity and relevance.
Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Ghosh alleged that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was “forced” to attend the gathering after her party’s recent electoral setbacks. He claimed that Banerjee had previously kept her distance from INDIA bloc meetings but was now compelled to participate due to changing political circumstances. According to Ghosh, the Trinamool Congress is facing a crisis, with several leaders and workers allegedly becoming inactive following the party’s loss of power in West Bengal.
“The alliance is non-existent,” Ghosh said, arguing that there is little cohesion among the opposition parties. He also questioned how parties that regularly contest against one another in different states could present a united national alternative. His remarks come at a time when opposition leaders are attempting to regroup and formulate a common strategy against the BJP.
The INDIA bloc meeting, being held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, is the first major gathering of opposition parties after a series of recent electoral contests. Several prominent leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, attended the meeting to discuss future political strategy and coordination among opposition parties.
However, the meeting has also highlighted visible strains within the alliance. Some major parties, including the DMK and AAP, chose not to participate, fuelling speculation about differences within the opposition camp. Political observers believe the meeting is crucial for determining whether the alliance can remain united ahead of future state elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
Despite BJP criticism, leaders within the opposition have maintained that the INDIA bloc remains committed to working together on issues such as inflation, unemployment and democratic rights. The outcome of the meeting is expected to shape the opposition’s strategy in the coming months as it seeks to counter the BJP’s growing political dominance across the country.
