Congress faces internal dissent ahead of VP election

Preventing cross-voting in the upcoming Vice Presidential election is set to be a major challenge for the Congress party.

- AJIT MAINDOLA NEW DELHI

Acting on the advice of its allies, Congress fielded former Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy from Telangana, but doubts persist over whether all alliance partners will stand by the choice. Sources suggest that even within Congress, cross-voting cannot be ruled out.

The party's internal discord is a major factor. Several MPs are reportedly dissatisfied with the neglect they face, blaming it on the coterie surrounding Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. MPs from Hindi belt states, in particular, feel sidelined. Adding to Congress's worries, rumblings of discontent have also emerged within allies DMK and TMC. The position of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena and the Aam Aadmi Party also remains uncertain.