NEW DELHI: The first major INDIA bloc meeting since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw several opposition allies deliver a pointed message to the Congress: be more “large-hearted” and adopt a more accommodating approach towards regional partners, news agency PTI reported, quoting sources.The CPM led the criticism by raising Congress leaders’ remarks during the Kerala assembly election campaign, while other allies flagged the growing friction with the DMK, whose absence from Monday’s meeting loomed large over the discussions. The concerns prompted Rahul Gandhi to reassure allies that Congress, as the largest party in the coalition, would work to keep the bloc together with “all the love and affection”.CPM Rajya Sabha leader John Brittas used the meeting to flag allegations made by senior Congress leaders during the Kerala polls that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had a tacit understanding with the BJP. The issue had already surfaced ahead of the meeting after CPM general secretary MA Baby wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge objecting to the remarks and describing them as inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation within the opposition alliance.Baby skipped Monday’s meeting, with Brittas representing the party.Citing people familiar with the discussions, PTI reported that Brittas told the gathering that Congress, as the largest constituent of the INDIA bloc, should take a broader view of national politics and not allow state-level political battles to weaken opposition unity.According to PTI sources, Brittas argued that while the CPM could politically contest criticism from Congress leaders in Kerala, the matter was different when such remarks came from Rahul Gandhi, one of the principal faces of the opposition alliance.He reportedly questioned the purpose of alliance partners sitting together to fight the BJP if one constituent publicly accused another of helping the ruling party.Brittas also reminded the gathering that the CPM had backed the Congress-led UPA government after the 2004 Lok Sabha elections to keep the BJP out of power and did not require any certification from Congress regarding its anti-BJP credentials.
Allies ask Congress to be ‘large-hearted’
According to PTI, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav were among those who intervened during the discussion. It is learnt that the Congress was asked to be “large-hearted” in its dealings with alliance partners.The discussion also touched upon developments that led to the DMK staying away from the meeting. Several leaders expressed concern over the growing friction between Congress and the Tamil Nadu party.The DMK’s absence loomed large over the meeting, especially as the party has publicly accused Congress of “betrayal” after its decision to align with Vijay’s TVK in Tamil Nadu following the assembly elections.Despite the criticism, leaders who attended the meeting told PTI that the overall atmosphere remained constructive and focused on strengthening the opposition coalition.In his concluding remarks, Rahul Gandhi acknowledged the concerns raised by allies and sought to reassure them about Congress’s commitment to the alliance.“As the biggest party here, we will have all the love and affection to unite this team,” Rahul Gandhi said, according to leaders present at the meeting.