NEW DELHI: Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who has been unwell for the past few weeks, is expected to become active once again to bring together the opposition’s Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) bloc. The alliance was formed to challenge the Narendra Modi-led government prior to the 2024 general elections.
While the I.N.D.I.A bloc remained united during the Lok Sabha polls, recent developments suggest a growing divide, with several alliance partners expressing differing views on key issues.
During the Parliament’s Budget Session, the Trinamool Congress maintained distance from the I.N.D.I.A bloc on multiple matters. However, with the Monsoon Session set to begin on July 21, the Congress is now working to reunite all parties in the alliance to mount a collective attack on the government over various concerns, including the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
A senior party source said that Gandhi will soon take an active role in Parliament to corner the government on these issues. Under her leadership, the Congress has already started reaching out to alliance partners to build a common agenda.
The party believes that Gandhi’s leadership in engaging with alliance partners will strengthen efforts to forge unity, as many leaders continue to hold her in high regard.
In May, 16 I.N.D.I.A bloc partners had written a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a special session of Parliament in light of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. However, the government rejected the demand. Notably, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chose to write a separate letter to the Prime Minister, signalling divisions within the alliance.
Similarly, NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar did not support the idea of a special session, and there were discussions about handing over the I.N.D.I.A bloc’s leadership to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was also reportedly upset with the Congress over the replacement of Bihar party chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh, who had coordinated closely with the former Bihar Chief Minister.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav have also appeared more focused on internal party matters in recent weeks.
Given this backdrop, Congress believes the time is right to revive the unity of the I.N.D.I.A bloc, particularly ahead of the Monsoon Session, which will provide a platform to target the government on multiple fronts.
The party feels that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan has presented the opposition with a fresh opportunity to question the government. The Centre’s silence on Trump’s claims may further help unite opposition parties in their criticism.
Additionally, the Election Commission’s ongoing revision of electoral rolls in Bihar—where Assembly elections are due later this year—has raised concerns among Congress and other parties. Similar apprehensions have been expressed about the poll process in Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, which could be leveraged to rally opposition unity.
The recent controversy over the three-language policy, which began in Tamil Nadu and has spread to Maharashtra, is also being seen by Congress as another opportunity to target the government.
The party maintains that its relations with key partners such as NCP(SP), SP, and RJD have not soured, and with Gandhi leading the dialogue, a broader consensus can be achieved.
