Akhilesh says INDIA grouping intact, days after Omar Abdullah criticism

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Lucknow on Sunday, Yadav said, “INDIA alliance is intact.”

Responding to a question on the remarks of various INDIA bloc leaders regarding the role of Congress, Yadav said, “Samajwadi Party is still following the same path to strengthen INDIA alliance. Only that regional party should take on the BJP which is fighting with it already.” Without naming AAP, he said that “other parties should appear to be standing with that regional party”.

The remarks came after Omar expressed dismay over the lack of clarity regarding the INDIA bloc leadership and its agenda. He said the alliance “should be wound up if it was only for parliamentary polls”

What kicked up a storm after Congress and AAP decided to battle out the Delhi polls on their own was RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav reportedly saying in Buxar district that there was nothing unusual about the Congress and AAP fighting separately in Delhi, where they had come together “only for the Lok Sabha polls”.

Speaking to The Indian Express, SP’s Delhi-based spokesperson Akhilesh Katiyar said that the SP has extended support to AAP in Delhi going by the same idea described by Akhilesh Yadav. “The way the AAP government has performed in Delhi over the past 10 years, this party has proved effective in stopping BJP. AAP has an organisational structure to connect with the public. SP believes that AAP can stop BJP.”

The Shiv Sena (UBT) too has said the AAP, and not the Congress, is in a better position to take on the BJP.

In December last year, amid widening fissures within the INDIA bloc, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had thanked the Opposition leaders who supported her after she expressed her willingness during an interview to a regional television channel to lead the alliance.

“If they cannot run the show, what can I do? If given the opportunity, I would ensure its smooth functioning. I can run it from here (Bengal),” she had said, sending ripples through the Opposition cluster.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar appeared to endorse her leadership, saying, “She is a capable leader and has the right to say it. The MPs she has sent to Parliament are hardworking and good.” The Bengal Congress however cried foul, calling the row a “BJP conspiracy”.