India’s united opposition faces major setback
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The departure of a key regional leader weakens opposition parties, which set aside their differences in 2023 to form an alliance.
PHOTO: AFP
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NEW DELHI – A key regional leader broke away from India’s opposition alliance on Jan 28 and was set to join hands again with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in a major blow to Mr Modi’s challengers months before general elections.
According to local media reports, Mr Nitish Kumar, chief minister of the northern state of Bihar, tendered his resignation to the state governor.
He told news agency ANI: “Today, I have resigned as the chief minister and I have also told the governor to dissolve the government in the state. This situation came because not everything was alright (with the alliance).”
Mr Kumar’s departure weakens India’s opposition parties, which had decided to set aside their differences in 2023 to form an alliance
He was instrumental in bringing together opposition parties to form the 28-party alliance, which includes the main opposition Congress party.
Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh said the BJP was scared of the alliance and this “political drama had been created” to divert attention.
The alliance was already facing serious turbulence last week with member Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of the eastern state of West Bengal and the head of Trinamool Congress party, saying it will contest Bengal alone.
Similarly, another member, Aam Aadmi Party, which rules the national capital territory of Delhi and northern state of Punjab, said it will not ally with Congress in Punjab. REUTERS
