The working president of Janata Dal (United), Sanjay Jha, has responded to remarks made by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi regarding Nitish Kumar’s departure from the INDIA bloc. He stated that several opposition figures currently within the alliance had, in the past, shown a preference for forming a coalition without the Congress party. Jha asserted that these leaders approached Kumar early in the formation of the INDIA bloc.

As per him, they requested him to hold meetings without the involvement of Congress members. According to Jha, he personally witnessed discussions led by Kumar when the opposition coalition was still in its early stages. He insisted that the desire to create a Congress-excluded front was evident among certain members of the INDIA bloc, which he repeatedly underscored as a motivation behind the initial meetings.

Kumar’s Stance on Leadership and Exit

Sanjay Jha further clarified that Nitish Kumar was never keen on taking the role of convenor of the INDIA bloc. Instead, Kumar’s decision to distance himself from the alliance stemmed from his growing discontent with what he described as the Congress’s “immaturity.” Jha elaborated that Kumar had sought to disengage from the coalition as he became aware of Congress’s priorities.

He believed they were centred around party interests rather than addressing broader political challenges. Identifying the Congress party’s focus on its internal dynamics, Jha commented that nothing seemed to take precedence over familial concerns within the organisation. This perceived prioritisation ultimately led Kumar to conclude that remaining in the alliance was untenable.

Reactions Following INDIA Bloc Developments

Jha’s remarks emerged shortly after reports surfaced about a disagreement between Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh during a Congress Working Committee meeting. The meeting, held on Monday, revolved around concerns over Kumar’s exit from the INDIA bloc ahead of the upcoming elections. Singh was reportedly vocal about the need for the party to have retained Kumar within the alliance.

It suggested that the political landscape could have been considerably different had he remained a member. Conversely, Sonia Gandhi expressed relief regarding Kumar’s departure, stating that it was anticipated he would leave the coalition eventually. She accused Kumar of being under the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and noted that he had been looking for opportunities to exit the INDIA bloc.

The Congress Working Committee, addressing the party’s political strategy, also focused on the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls. The committee expressed intentions to challenge alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. An upcoming meeting of the INDIA bloc later the same day is expected to facilitate discussions among opposition parties on a coordinated strategy regarding the electoral exercise and the Election Commission.

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