SP supported Mamata Banerjee over leadership of INDIA alliance

Kokila Chokkanathan

Reportedly Union minister and republican party of india (RPI) chief ramdas athawale has given his reaction to the ongoing debate over the leadership of the india alliance. He said, "Mamata Banerjee is the chief minister of West bengal and a senior leader. rahul Gandhi and the congress believe that the leadership of the alliance should be with her. mamata banerjee has also got the support of sharad pawar and uddhav Thackeray. However, this is an internal matter of the alliance, which the leaders of the india alliance will resolve by mutual consent." Perhaps this statement of ramdas athawale has come at a time when differences over leadership within the alliance are coming to the fore. Athawale, while accepting mamata Banerjee's seniority, called it an "internal matter" of the alliance, but also indirectly challenged the claim of congress and rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile this statement is a signal to the alliance that resolving the leadership issue should be its priority before the upcoming lok sabha elections. mamata banerjee had recently expressed her desire to lead the india alliance, which was supported by the Samajwadi party and some other parties. However, the congress opposed it and described rahul Gandhi as the most suitable leader of the alliance. Athawale's statement makes it clear that differences are deepening on this issue within the alliance.

Moreover the india alliance was formed to show the strength of the united opposition against the bjp in the 2024 lok sabha elections. It includes 26 parties including congress, Trinamool congress, shiv sena (Uddhav faction), Samajwadi party, RJD, Aam Aadmi Party. The first meeting of the alliance was held in Patna, which was organized by Lalu prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar. The alliance devised a strategy to challenge the nda in the lok sabha elections, but the performance in the recent haryana and maharashtra assembly elections was weak. Now the dispute over leadership between mamata banerjee and rahul Gandhi has raised questions on the unity of this alliance.

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