Shiv Sena and Samajwadi Party Criticize Congress for Poor Alliance Management Amid Election Setbacks
Mumbai, 9th October 2024: On a day when the Congress party faced setbacks in Haryana, winning only six out of 37 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, its allies in the INDIA bloc urged the party to reflect on its performance, asserting that regional parties are the primary challengers to the BJP.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi remarked on the need for the Congress to analyze its consistent losses in direct contests. She mentioned that there was potential for victory and highlighted ongoing seat-sharing discussions in Maharashtra, emphasizing the importance of unseating the current government while being mindful of local dynamics.
Samajwadi Party MP and spokesperson Rajeev Rai criticized the Congress for its attitude towards alliance leadership. He pointed out that Congress did not allocate any seats to their party in Haryana, with Bhupinder Singh Hooda suggesting that the Samajwadi Party lacked influence in the state. Rai noted a similar situation in Madhya Pradesh before the Lok Sabha elections, where Congress sought seats in areas where they were weak but was reluctant to share power in regions where they had strength. He insisted that a successful alliance requires mutual respect.
TMC Rajya Sabha member Sagarika Ghose stated that regional parties are the driving force within the INDIA bloc. She pointed to successful Lok Sabha results where Congress allied with regional groups, underscoring that these parties are effectively challenging and defeating the BJP. Ghose urged Congress to better accommodate its allies in future elections.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai advised Congress to learn from its defeat in Haryana, suggesting that the party and its allies should unite to confront the BJP in Maharashtra.
CPI leader D Raja expressed concerns about the seat-sharing process within the INDIA bloc, calling for introspection and emphasizing the need for mutual trust among parties.
The RJD, however, had a different perspective. Spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta expressed disappointment over the Congress’s performance in Haryana, noting the positive impact of Rahul Gandhi’s campaign but acknowledging that voters’ sentiments ultimately prevailed. He mentioned that independent candidates might have influenced the outcome.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh criticized the Congress for failing to collaborate with its allies in Haryana. He highlighted that Congress was positioned to form the government and had significant chances of success. Singh argued that both the Samajwadi Party and AAP had offered support, but Congress did not engage effectively with them. He believed that if leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Akhilesh Yadav had campaigned in Haryana, it would have benefited the Congress party.
