Opposition unity a major challenge for Congress

'Regional players believe that contesting with the Congress may not help the parties' Lok Sabha poll prospects'.

- BADAR BASHIR

Even after the success of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, which party leaders say put the Congress in top gear, party insiders claim that the party has again gone on the back foot due to its alleged “incompetence” in giving responsibilities to deserving party functionaries. This has resulted in state parties doubting the grand old party’s ability and its role as the main opposition party.

Knowing that Congress is of no consequence in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, political pundits argue that regional players like Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, who want to remove the BJP from power, would be willing to contest alone in their states, as it would give their cadres more space in allotting tickets without having to share seats for a “losing cause”.