Wind up I.N.D.I.A. bloc if it was just formed for Lok Sabha polls: Omar Abdullah

Congress, NC and AAP are constituents of I.N.D.I.A. bloc, the national opposition front formed ahead of Lok Sabha elections last year.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday called for the disbanding of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, citing a lack of clarity regarding its leadership and political agenda. 

“If the alliance was only formed for the 2024 Parliament elections, it should be disbanded,” the National Conference (NC) leader said while responding to a question on Delhi Assembly polls, which is witnessing a three-cornered fight between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), BJP, and the Congress.

Congress, NC, and AAP are constituents of I.N.D.I.A. bloc, the national opposition front formed ahead of the Lok Sabha elections last year.

While declining to comment on the ongoing bitter war of words between AAP and Congress ahead of Delhi Assembly polls, Abdullah said, “I cannot say anything about this because we have nothing to do with Delhi elections. AAP, Congress and the other parties on the ground must decide how to combat the BJP.”

"As far as I remember, there was no time limit to the I.N.D.I.A. alliance. (But) it is unfortunate that no meeting of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc has taken place. Who will lead? What will be the agenda? How will the alliance move forward? There is no discussion on these issues. There is no clarity on whether we will remain united or not," he asked.

Questions regarding the future of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc and its leadership have emerged in the months following the general election, which saw a united Opposition make big gains. Abdullah’s remarks add to the growing debate within opposition parties about the future of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, especially as tensions over leadership and strategy continue to simmer.

J&K CM’s remark comes a day after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav said the I.N.D.I.A. bloc had lost its significance and was formed specifically for the Lok Sabha polls.