INDIA bloc on edge amid defeat streak, fears of BJP poaching rise

New Delhi: The latest electoral reversals for Opposition in state polls has prompted eerie whispers among the political coordinators whether it will trigger desertions and realignments from the ranks within the INDIA bloc.The recent spectacle of two-thirds of the Rajya Sabha members of AAP crossing over to BJP has also made many in the Opposition to be on the guard against more similar ‘mergers and acquisitions’ or strategic ‘realignments’ at a time when the morale and internal unity of many parties are at a low ebb against BJP, which is 32 short of acquiring its own majority in the NDA-dominated Lok Sabha. BJP is oozing confidence as an ‘expansionist party’ on winning streaks and on the lookout for greener pastures.

As the third Modi government is set to complete two years in power soon, Opposition sources said their initial hopes of wooing back some NDA allies after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls has – after BJP consolidated itself with a series of victories in key states, ally JD(U) accepted BJP leadership even in Bihar and other partners leaving no stone unturned to showcase their unwavering support – made way to be extra cautious in guarding their tents from BJP’s gaze.
The perception of NDA regime getting more stable with these victories has increased dismay and rift within the Opposition despite the bluster of daily tweets and soundbytes against the Centre.

If the Arvind Kejriwal-led party losing power in Delhi resulted in the AAP leadership losing control over many of its Rajya Sabha MPs, prompting a close watch on the party’s Lok Sabha and Punjab assembly members, the Opposition campers are now fully conscious of the list of similarly badly mauled Opposition parties, especially among the regional outfits.

Ever since original Shiv Sena and NCP suffered splits and subsequently lost power in Maharashtra, SS-UBT (9 Lok Sabha MP) and NCP-SCP (8) are in choppy waters amid leadership issues and low morale. How the crushing defeats of TMC (28) and DMK (22) will affect its internal play is being closely watched. Adding to this is the sharpening faultlines within INDIA bloc as demonstrated during the just concluded poll campaign, with the Congress leadership and some INDIA bloc allies engaged in verbal spats.
Its spillover, in Congress-TMC ties and Congress’ bid to woo Vijay at the expense of DMK, is being closely watched even as a non-Congress clique is evidently emerging within the INDIA bloc. While Congress’ larger Lok Sabha MPs (99) provide some technical insurance against defections even as unhappiness is growing within its ranks over serial defeats and sense of drift in the leadership, yet some say the manner in which many Congress leaders who quit the party are finding fortunes in BJP, Assam being the latest case, would warrant the central leadership to meaningfully work on sorting out internal issues and avert foisting unpopular leaders to helm PCCs in poll-bound states.