Internal divisions within the opposition emerged on Monday as several parties criticized the Congress for its role in leading the INDIA bloc during a New Delhi gathering. Sources indicated that alliance members highlighted poor coordination and claims of derogatory remarks by Congress figures in recent polls. The issue was first raised by Akhilesh Yadav, with left-leaning parties voicing similar points. Some participants also called for more frequent meetings instead of annual sessions. Rahul Gandhi responded that national unity exists but state-level inputs must be considered during campaigns. The group also addressed the growing influence of the Cockroach Janta Party, agreeing to back its public-focused efforts. Uddhav Thackeray noted its appeal while acknowledging room for differing views. The party had earlier sought the education minister’s resignation over NEET and CBSE issues. Twenty-five opposition parties convened to plan a joint approach against the ruling coalition on political and economic matters ahead of 2029 polls. Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee attended, with some joining remotely. Mallikarjun Kharge stated views were shared openly. The bloc agreed to meet every two months, starting in Hyderabad in August, and to coordinate during the monsoon session. A letter to the Chief Justice on electoral roll concerns was planned, alongside calls for the minister’s resignation and an all-party discussion on the economy, jobs, inflation and farmers. The DMK and AAP skipped the event due to tensions with Congress. This was the first such meeting since June 2024.
