Ajay Kumar I Lucknow
The Delhi Assembly election will not only decide the politics of the capital but will also have an impact on the politics of the opposition alliance, INDIA. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition gave a tough fight to the BJP under the INDIA alliance, signaling that the unity of opposition parties could play a significant role in the upcoming elections. However, as the Delhi Assembly election approaches, infighting within the opposition is intensifying, and the results of this election could be crucial not only for Delhi’s power but also for the future and leadership of the opposition alliance.
In the politics of the Delhi election, a fierce clash between Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party is unfolding. Congress has its own political ambitions, while the Aam Aadmi Party has strengthened its hold on Delhi’s politics. Meanwhile, several allies of the INDIA alliance, such as SP, RJD, TMC, and NCP, have openly supported the Aam Aadmi Party, presenting a new challenge to Congress. This is weakening Congress’s position, and now the question arises whether Congress will be able to establish its political ground in this electoral atmosphere, or if regional parties will push Congress aside.
Questions regarding leadership within the INDIA alliance have become a significant crisis for opposition unity. Leaders like Maharashtra’s Sharad Pawar and Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have stated that the INDIA alliance was only meant for the Lok Sabha elections, and now its purpose has ended. Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav have also extended their support to the Aam Aadmi Party, and their remarks have become a source of deep concern for Congress. This situation could be even more serious for Congress, as this alliance is not under its leadership, but rather with the support of regional parties.
In the Delhi election, Congress’s senior leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a campaign against both the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party. During the election campaign in Delhi, he targeted both parties, comparing them as one. This step by Rahul Gandhi reflects Congress’s struggle, but it is also clear that the Delhi election results will be extremely important for Congress. If Congress loses in Delhi, it could intensify dissent within the INDIA alliance. For many regional parties, such as SP, RJD, and TMC, this might be an opportunity to push Congress out of the political fight and take the lead in the INDIA alliance.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress united opposition parties, which worked to its advantage. Congress won 99 seats, strengthening its position. However, after losses in the Haryana and Maharashtra elections, Congress’s confidence weakened. Following these defeats, opposition parties began questioning Congress’s leadership, with leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Sharad Pawar pressuring Congress to relinquish the leadership of the alliance. This was a signal that Congress’s significance within the INDIA alliance was diminishing, and the alliance was beginning to fracture after the Lok Sabha elections.
The results of the Delhi Assembly election will not only affect the politics of the capital but will also impact the stability of the opposition alliance. If the Aam Aadmi Party wins and forms the government for the fourth time, it will intensify the leadership conflict within the INDIA alliance. New debates could emerge regarding the leadership of regional parties like Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and Arvind Kejriwal. Congress will face pressure to give up the reins of the INDIA alliance, with a regional party potentially taking over.
On the other hand, if the Aam Aadmi Party fails to retain power in Delhi, it will affect both the BJP and Congress. The Aam Aadmi Party is likely to face allegations of collusion with the BJP, damaging its credibility. Furthermore, it is also true that the Aam Aadmi Party was formed at the expense of Congress’s vote bank. Whenever Congress becomes strong, the Aam Aadmi Party feels weak. It is evident that as Congress strengthens its ground, the Aam Aadmi Party’s power diminishes.
In today’s political landscape, regional parties are trying to strengthen their political power more than Congress. The SP took advantage of Congress’s weakness in UP, RJD did so in Bihar, and TMC benefited in Bengal. This strategy of regional parties is to prevent Congress from becoming too strong in their paths. They do not want Congress to regain its lost political ground. Therefore, the Delhi election results will determine whether Congress will have a chance to return to power. If Congress loses in Delhi, it will increase the likelihood that the remaining allies of the INDIA alliance will push for new leadership, potentially sidelining Congress.
Nevertheless, the Delhi Assembly elections will not only impact the politics of Delhi but also the future politics of the entire INDIA alliance. These elections will be crucial not just for the power in the capital, but also for the unity, leadership, and future of the opposition alliance. The results of this election will make it clear what Congress’s political future will be and how much influence regional parties will gain.
