Why Mamata Banerjee eyes Rahul Gandhi’s job, with Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad Yadav on her side

Resentment against the Congress has been brewing for months but has now exploded into the open after the party’s dismal performance in the assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra. For its allies, these defeats were less about electoral miscalculations and more about a larger issue: the Congress’s alleged inability to adapt to the dynamics of coalition politics, its dismissive attitude towards partners, and obsession with certain narratives that many believe are politically counterproductive.

At the centre of the discontent is Rahul Gandhi, whose leadership style, priorities and public behaviour have become flashpoints. Allies have openly expressed their frustration with what they see as Rahul’s narrow and repetitive focus on issues like the Adani Group and Veer Savarkar, topics they argue have limited resonance among voters and, worse, alienate key constituencies.

The Savarkar controversy is particularly illustrative of this dynamic. Rahul’s repeated attacks on Savarkar, a highly polarising figure, drew sharp criticism from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), led by Uddhav Thackeray, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), led by Sharad Pawar. For the Maharashtra-based allies, Savarkar is not just a historical figure but a political icon with deep emotional resonance for many Maharashtrians.

Despite repeated warnings from both Uddhav and Pawar that continuing these attacks would harm their voter base and feed directly into the BJP’s cultural agenda, Rahul persisted. The result? The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition suffered a humiliating defeat in Maharashtra, with both Uddhav and Pawar blaming Rahul’s obstinacy for the loss.

Adding to the frustration is Rahul’s preoccupation with crony capitalism, specifically his attacks on the Adani Group, which Congress has turned into a cornerstone of its Opposition strategy. While the allegations against Adani are serious and have rattled the Narendra Modi government, allies like Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, and even Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders believe that overemphasis on the issue is a strategic mistake.

The TMC, for example, has openly boycotted Congress-led protests on the Adani issue, with senior party leaders like Abhishek Banerjee stating that voters are far more concerned about inflation, unemployment and welfare delivery than they are about corporate controversies. SP leaders have also quietly expressed annoyance, arguing that constant attacks on Adani do little to address the bread-and-butter concerns of Uttar Pradesh’s electorate. This divergence of priorities has turned into a simmering conflict, with allies accusing the Congress of ignoring the ground realities that regional parties are more attuned to.

Another contentious issue has been the Congress’s persistent allegation about electronic voting machines (EVMs) being tampered with. While the Congress has initiated campaigns like ‘EVM Jagao Yatra’, the TMC and the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) have dismissed the allegations as baseless and counterproductive.

Abhishek openly criticised the Congress’s approach, urging the party to focus on booth-level management rather than conspiracy theories. Abdullah echoed the sentiment, sarcastically remarking that the Congress cannot celebrate victories achieved through EVM voting and then turn around and blame the machines when the results go against the party.

The resentment is not limited to issues of strategy but extends to the Congress’s style of functioning within the alliance, particularly in Parliament. One of the most glaring examples of this was evident during the winter session when SP MP Awadhesh Prasad was shifted from a front-row seating in the Lok Sabha to the second row.

This seemingly minor seating arrangement issue became a flashpoint because it was seen as emblematic of the Congress’s dismissive attitude toward allies. The SP, which played a crucial role in the INDIA bloc’s formation, expected Rahul, as leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to intervene and object to this downgrade. But his silence only deepened the SP’s grievances. SP MPs openly questioned whether the Congress’s insistence on keeping prime seats in the Lok Sabha was aimed at creating space for Priyanka Gandhi in the front row, further fuelling perceptions of the Congress’s ‘big brother’ attitude within the alliance.

A similar sense of betrayal was felt by AAP when the Congress failed to stand by its leader Sanjay Singh during a heated parliamentary debate wherein Singh was targeted by BJP MPs. AAP leaders were furious that while other INDIA allies vocally defended Singh, Congress members chose to remain silent, presumably because they didn’t want to confuse voters in Delhi, where the two parties are competitors and face an election in a few months. This incident added to the growing mistrust between the Congress and AAP amid past tensions over issues such as seat-sharing in states where the parties contested as allies.

The Congress’s diminishing electoral returns and inability to maintain alliance cohesion have opened the door for regional leaders like Mamata to claim the mantle of leadership. The West Bengal chief minister, who has successfully fended off the BJP in her state multiple times, has categorically positioned herself as an alternative leader of the INDIA bloc. Mamata’s leadership ambitions are not baseless. Her party convincingly defeated the BJP in Bengal and demonstrated strong electoral strategies and welfare-oriented governance. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh have argued that Mamata has proven her mettle and deserves a chance to lead the bloc.

INDIA members such as Pawar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, and his son Tejashwi Yadav have publicly supported Mamata’s claim, with Pawar calling her a capable leader who has a proven track-record of defeating the BJP. Lalu, an old ally of the Congress, even remarked: “Mamata ko de do (Give it to Mamata)”, signalling a growing consensus that the alliance needs a leader with a more collaborative approach and a stronger electoral record.

Mamata’s rise as a challenger to Rahul underscores a broader shift in the power dynamics of Opposition politics, where regional leaders are asserting themselves against the Congress’s traditional dominance. For the Congress, the path forward is fraught with hurdles. It must address the grievances of its allies, recalibrate its strategies and deliver electoral victories to regain standing within the bloc.

The Congress, for its part, has tried to manage this discontent through damage-control measures, though these efforts have largely fallen flat. Rahul has reportedly advised party members to avoid responding to criticisms from allies, focusing instead on maintaining party discipline. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, also the chairperson of INDIA, has attempted to mediate between the warring sides, emphasising on the need for unity. But the refusal to share leadership responsibilities or name a convenor for the INDIA bloc has only exacerbated tensions. Allies like Nitish Kumar have already left the alliance, and others are reportedly considering alternative alignments if the Congress does not change its approach.

The political implications of this disarray are significant. The INDIA bloc was formed to present a united front against the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the infighting has raised serious questions about its viability as an alternative to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Without a clear and inclusive approach, the INDIA bloc may collapse under the weight of its own contradictions. If the alliance cannot resolve its internal conflicts, it risks losing credibility and becoming irrelevant, leaving the BJP unchallenged in its pursuit of political dominance.Bengaluru: 6 of a family die after container falls on luxury car