I.N.D.I.A Sinking Ship? Here's What Cong Said On Nitish's Possible 'Flip-Flop' And Mamata's 'Solo Fight' Vow

Hailing Nitish and Mamata as co-architects of the I.N.D.I.A bloc, Jairam Ramesh said the leaders cobbled up the alliance to take on the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming elections.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Amid growing uncertainty over the political situation in Bihar as speculations mount on Nitish Kumar’s possible return to NDA, the Congress on Saturday said there is no possibility of the I.N.D.I.A bloc collapse although the BJP is trying to cause “mini implosions”. The party also said those who are “interested in saving democracy” will remain a part of the Opposition alliance.

Addressing the media, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said party president Mallikarjun Kharge tried to speak to Nitish several times but was unable to contact.

#WATCH | Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says, "...I can formally say that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge tried to talk to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar not just once, but several times. However, the Bihar CM is busy..." pic.twitter.com/KC3R1hgJdv

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

The Congress statement comes amid a buzz around fissures within the I.N.D.I.A bloc after TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee vowed to contest all the Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal alone, and Nitish Kumar continues to keep both the BJP and Opposition on edge over reports that he might jump ship again and retain the chief ministerial chair in Bihar.

Hailing Nitish and Mamata as co-architects of the I.N.D.I.A bloc, Jairam Ramesh said the leaders cobbled up the alliance to take on the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming elections and local issues will not take precedence over national interest.

“We may have problems at the state level but this alliance has been put together. One of the architects of this alliance is the Bihar chief minister. One of the co-architects of this alliance is the West Bengal chief minister. So they know that this is a national alliance. This is not an alliance in which local issues will take precedence over national issues. National issues will get priority. Our national objective will get priority,” Jairam Ramesh told the media.

Speaking to reports in Karnataka, Kharge said he does not have any information on Nitish switching alliance and added that he hopes those who want to save democracy won’t change their mind.

“I don't have any information on JDU moving out of the INDIA alliance. What they have in mind is not clear. I am traveling to Dehradun tomorrow, then to Delhi. I will get the full information and then I will brief you. Let us see what will happen... Our effort is to unite everyone. I have spoken with Mamata Banerjee, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Sitaram Yechury. If we unite, we will give a good fight, and the INDIA alliance will be a success. Those who are interested in saving democracy will not change their minds and will stay with us,” news agency ANI quoted Kharge as saying.