The Opposition bloc in India is facing challenges as they prepare for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, has claimed that he has not yet been invited to join the Congress’s ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, which is being led by Rahul Gandhi and is currently in its Jharkhand leg. The Yatra aims to unite the Opposition parties and take the INDIA bloc forward.
However, there are already dissenting voices within the Opposition, as two key partners, the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, have ruled out allying with the Congress in West Bengal and Punjab in the upcoming elections.
When asked about joining the Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav stated that they don’t always receive invitations for big events and questioned why they should ask for an invitation.
The Nyay Yatra, which has covered five states, is currently in Jharkhand and is set to enter Uttar Pradesh on February 14. The Yatra has already covered over 6,700 kilometres over 67 days, traversing through 110 districts. It will conclude in Mumbai on March 20.
The Yatra aims to mobilize support for the Congress and unite the Opposition against the BJP. Rahul Gandhi has stated that the Congress’s fight is against the ‘hatred’ in the hearts of the BJP members.
The Yatra is a follow-up to the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which saw Rahul Gandhi cover more than 3,000 kilometres on foot. This time, the Yatra is following a hybrid format, involving travel by bus as well.
The political landscape in Jharkhand has also seen upheaval, with the resignation and arrest of the former chief minister, Hemant Soren, in connection with an alleged land scam. The change of guard in Jharkhand has added to the political dynamics in the state.
Overall, the Opposition bloc in India is facing challenges and differences over seat-sharing and alliances, as they prepare for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Congress is leading efforts to unite the Opposition through the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, but there are dissenting voices and challenges within the bloc.