New Delhi, 08 June (H.S.):

Political activity intensified in the national capital on Monday ahead of a crucial meeting of the opposition INDIA alliance. Posters targeting the Congress party and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, appeared at several prominent locations across Delhi, sparking fresh debate over the cohesion and credibility of the opposition bloc.

The posters, displayed at key locations including Ashoka Road, Rail Bhavan and the Le Meridien roundabout, prominently featured past statements made by senior opposition leaders. Through these quotations, the posters sought to question both the credibility of Congress and the unity of the INDIA alliance.

The messaging appeared aimed at highlighting ideological and political differences among parties within the opposition coalition and suggesting that there is no complete consensus among alliance partners regarding Congress and its leadership.

Several posters carried excerpts from remarks previously made by opposition leaders critical of Congress and Rahul Gandhi.

One poster featured an earlier statement by Sharad Pawar, in which he reportedly said that Rahul Gandhi lacked consistency. Another displayed a remark attributed to Pinarayi Vijayan, stating that although Rahul Gandhi is a national leader, he does not possess the level of understanding demonstrated by even a local Congress worker.

Similarly, a statement attributed to Udhayanidhi Stalin was included in the posters, alleging that Congress had advanced politically by relying on its allies before eventually betraying them. The posters also referenced earlier comments by Mamata Banerjee, including remarks suggesting that Congress was losing credibility and that it could no longer be relied upon. Another quoted statement suggested that if Congress was unable to lead the alliance effectively, others could assume that role.

Some posters also cited past remarks by Arvind Kejriwal that were critical of Congress and its leadership.

At the bottom of all the posters appeared the same slogan: “If INDIA alliance partners are fighting among themselves, how can they fight together?” The slogan appeared intended to reinforce the narrative that internal disagreements within the opposition coalition are too deep for it to function as a united political force.

As of now, it remains unclear who was responsible for putting up the posters. None of them carried the name of any political party, organisation or individual.

Reacting to the controversy, Congress leader Pawan Khera said he had not seen the posters and therefore did not wish to comment on them.

Ahead of the INDIA alliance meeting, signs of dissatisfaction have also emerged from Left parties regarding Congress. D. Raja, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India, said the number of parties expected to attend the meeting and the final agenda were not yet entirely clear. He added that the Left parties have their own political concerns, which they intend to raise strongly during the discussions.

D. Raja also alleged that Congress leaders had questioned the integrity and credibility of Left parties during the Kerala Assembly election campaign, creating tensions between the two sides.

The INDIA alliance meeting is being viewed as highly significant in the context of upcoming elections. According to sources, representatives from around 23 political parties are expected to participate. Discussions are likely to focus on electoral strategy, seat-sharing arrangements in various states, a common political programme and measures to strengthen opposition unity.

Political observers believe the appearance of these posters ahead of the meeting is an attempt to challenge the image of opposition solidarity. At a time when the INDIA alliance is seeking to consolidate its national strategy, renewed attention on past criticisms exchanged among alliance partners could create an uncomfortable backdrop for the discussions. Ultimately, analysts say, the deliberations and decisions taken during the meeting will determine how effectively the opposition addresses the political challenges that lie ahead.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar