Take a cue from NDA: Uddhav Sena to Congress on keeping coalition dharma

Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday targeted the Congress over its approach to the INDIA bloc, blaming the party for the breakdown of communication within the opposition alliance and questioning its future.

In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party asserted that the Congress must decide whether it wants to fight the BJP alone or maintain unity within the alliance.

“If Congress believes that they can contest against BJP on their own, they should do it. But if you have to fight them, then the INDIA alliance should stay together. It should have a leader and a convenor as well. Congress should think about it,” it said.

The editorial accused Congress of failing to foster coordination within the alliance, drawing comparisons to the functioning of the BJP-led NDA during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure.

“Even in NDA, whenever there is a national issue, they call a meeting of NDA alliance partners. Leaders like Pramod Mahajan and Advani used to travel and speak to regional leaders. People like George Fernandes were the convenor. It helped in creating bonhomie in the NDA alliance partners. Congress should take a cue from this,” it said.

The Sena also urged the Congress to avoid personal attacks on its alliance partners, referencing tensions between Congress and Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which have decided to go solo in the upcoming Delhi polls. The two parties have traded barbs in the run-up to the high-stakes election, with senior Congress leader Ajay Maken dubbing Kejriwal “Farziwal” and “anti-national” on one occasion and triggering a massive row.

“There can be a fight between Congress and AAP in Delhi. But to call Kejriwal anti-national does not suit Congress culture… We request Congress with folded hands to keep the communication intact,” it said.

The editorial pointed to growing discontent among INDIA bloc allies, citing recent remarks by National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who expressed dismay over the alliance’s lack of clarity on leadership and its agenda, suggesting the bloc “should be wound up if it was only for parliamentary polls.”

“Omar has already said that the INDIA bloc should be scrapped. But if he thinks that PM Modi and Amit Shah will favour him because of this statement, it is a mistake. However, what Omar said was not wrong,” it stated.

Shiv Sena (UBT) noted that similar frustrations had been voiced by other allies, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.

The editorial also highlighted Congress’ clashes with regional parties in several states, including AAP in Delhi and Punjab, the Left in Kerala, and TMC in West Bengal.

“Every regional party desires to retain its identity, and Congress does not want to understand this,” it said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) warned that the INDIA bloc and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had become inactive after the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections, calling for action to revive the coalition.

“If the INDIA alliance has to be a success, there needs to be a convenor, and Congress should see to it that interaction between INDIA alliance remains intact,” it said.