'INDIA Alliance Intact': Akhilesh Yadav Dismisses Speculations Amid Setbacks For Oppn Bloc

Akhilesh Yadav's remark comes shortly after Shiv Sena (UBT) announced going solo in the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra cities in a massive setback for the opposition bloc.

File photo of Akhilesh Yadav.

Source : PTI

Amid differences among leaders over the future of INDIA alliance, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday spoke on the speculations of a 'rift' in the opposition alliance. 

Akhilesh, while speaking to reporters in Lucknow, dismissed the speculations of a rift in the alliance and said that SP is on the path to strengthen the INDIA aliance. 

"INDIA alliance is intact. INDIA alliance was formed to gather the regional parties against the BJP. Samajwadi party is still on the path to strengthening the INDIA alliance. It stands with the parties that are fighting against the BJP," Akhilesh said on Sunday.

The SP leader also said that the the bloc was formed so that the regional parties, that are challenging the BJP, should be supported. 

The remark of the SP leader comes shortly after Shiv Sena (UBT) announced going solo in the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra cities in a massive setback for the opposition bloc.

#WATCH | Lucknow, UP | Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "INDIA alliance is intact. INDIA alliance was formed to gather the regional parties against the BJP. Samajwadi party is still on the path to strengthening the INDIA alliance. It stands with the parties that are… pic.twitter.com/pZRnqclQKJ

— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2025

Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari said the alliance's broader purpose was to safeguard the soul of the country, not merely to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

"The INDIA alliance was created to safeguard the soul of the country, not merely to contest the Lok Sabha elections. It delivered a strong performance, which curbed BJP’s dominance in many regions. The future course will be decided collectively by all alliance leaders." Tewari said.

The speculations of the rift grew stronger after J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the INDIA bloc should be disbanded as the opposition wasn't united. Omar was responding to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who said that the bloc was for Lok Sabha elections and added that it for natural for the Congress and AAP to have conflicts. However, shortly after Omar Abdullah's statement, his father and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah opposed the CM's views saying that the INDIA bloc was not meant for the Lok Sabha Elections alone, but aimed at strengthening the country.

Recently, the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress, constituents of the INDIA alliance, announced their decisions to support the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, leaving Congress isolated. 

Congress and AAP have decided to go solo in the Delhi Assembly Elections, with both the parties saying that the INDIA alliance was created for the Lok Sabha elections.