Chidambaram Flags INDIA Bloc Fragility, BJP Calls It ‘Confession of Defeat’

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 16th May: Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P. Chidambaram’s candid remarks on the uncertain future of the INDIA bloc and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “formidable” organisational strength have sparked a sharp backlash from the ruling party, fuelling a political firestorm ahead of a crucial electoral cycle.

Speaking at a Delhi book launch event on Thursday, Chidambaram openly questioned the cohesiveness of the INDIA alliance. “The future is not so bright… the INDIA alliance seems frail. It can be put together, there is still time, but I am not sure,” he said, adding that while he would be “very happy” if the alliance holds, its fragility cannot be ignored.

He further warned the opposition about the BJP’s well-oiled electoral machinery. “In my experience, in my reading of history, there has been no political party which is so formidably organised as the BJP,” Chidambaram remarked. “It is not just another political party… in every department, it is formidable.”

The BJP swiftly seized upon the comments. Party spokesperson and analyst Pradeep Bhandari posted a clip of the speech on social media, saying, “Even Rahul Gandhi’s close aides know Congress has no future!” Former Union Minister and BJP’s Kerala unit chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar echoed the sentiment, dismissing the INDIA bloc as a “motley collection” united only by “love for corruption”.

“The BJP is a formidable party because it believes in strong values and India First, and cares for all Indians,” Chandrasekhar said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Neither the Congress nor Chidambaram has responded to the BJP’s interpretation of his remarks.

The controversy comes months before high-stakes state elections in Bihar (2025), West Bengal and Tamil Nadu (2026), and Uttar Pradesh (2027), which are expected to reshape the national political landscape ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

At the same event, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, co-author of the book Contesting Democratic Deficit, defended the formation of the INDIA alliance, saying the Congress had “ceded” its dominant position in the interest of opposition unity. “We accepted that we need an alliance. Even by ceding our place, we chose to fight together,” Khurshid said.

However, cracks in the bloc have been evident, with internal dissent, poor electoral coordination, and Congress’ reluctance to share seats with regional allies — as seen in Haryana — raising questions about its ability to counter the BJP’s growing political dominance.

Chidambaram concluded with a stark warning: the 2029 general election could either reinforce the BJP’s control over Indian politics or revive full-fledged democracy through a united opposition — a message interpreted by the BJP as a quiet concession of defeat, and by critics as a wake-up call to the opposition camp.