In a sharp critique published in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday demanded answers from the Congress regarding the current status of the INDIA bloc, questioning its conspicuous absence from discussions at the party’s recent Ahmedabad session. The editorial expressed disappointment that the Congress chose to focus solely on itself, with no mention of the opposition alliance or its future after the Lok Sabha elections.
“Where does the INDIA bloc stand post-elections? Has it been buried or disappeared into thin air?” the editorial asked, holding Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge responsible for offering clarity. The Sena (UBT) also sought to know the Congress’s plan for upcoming state elections in Bihar, Gujarat, and West Bengal, warning that continuing to ignore alliance partners like AAP and TMC could pave the way for BJP victories.
The editorial questioned the utility of the Congress session held on April 8–9 in Gujarat—a state where the party has remained out of power for two decades and managed to win only one Lok Sabha seat since 2014. It further urged the Congress to focus on states like Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh while introspecting its assembly poll debacle in Maharashtra, where internal conflicts and BJP’s scams contributed to its downfall.
Shiv Sena (UBT) emphasized that the Congress must take charge of the opposition’s fight against “dictatorship” but warned that any strategy involving contesting against INDIA bloc allies would be counterproductive. Referring to the Congress-AAP split in the Delhi assembly polls, it said such missteps only strengthen the BJP.
“We have to defeat the BJP, not our friends,” the Sena (UBT) concluded, hinting that a cohesive alliance strategy is crucial if the opposition aims to present a serious challenge in the upcoming state and national elections.
