Amid rumblings in INDIA bloc, Congress admits optics took a hit: ‘But alliance not imploding’

As the Opposition INDIA bloc lurches from one crisis to another, the Congress on Saturday admitted that the optics regarding the alliance had taken a hit because of the rumblings in the alliance even as it expressed confidence about placating West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee and sealing seat-sharing arrangements with other allies in a couple of days.

Pointing out that the Gandhis and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge respect Mamata, the party once again appealed to her to join Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that is resuming its journey from Jalpaiguri in north Bengal on Sunday after a two-day break. Kharge has also written to Banerjee, flagging the possibility of “some miscreants” fomenting trouble for the yatra and seeking appropriate directions from her side “to ensure smooth passage of the yatra through Bengal and ensure safety of the yatris, including Gandhi”.

Interestingly, Kharge wrote, “I am aware that the Gandhi family and you share very cordial relations, and you would ensure that all security concerns would be addressed adequately.”

The INDIA alliance is, however, staring at a crisis in the battle of perception. While Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is all set to walk out of the bloc and return to the NDA fold, Banerjee and Aam Aadmi Party’s Bhagwant Mann have ruled out seat-sharing with the Congress in their states.

The Congress also admitted that Kharge had tried to contact Kumar twice or thrice but the two were unable to connect. Amid reports that a section of the Congress MLAs in Bihar could not be contacted, the party decided to rush former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel to Patna as a special observer.

“The situation could be better. I won’t say it is tense.