Omar Abdullah Exposes INDIA Bloc Crisis: Opposition Alliance Struggles After Nitish Kumar's Departure

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has revealed significant fractures within the INDIA bloc, asserting that the alliance pushed veteran politician Nitish Kumar toward the BJP-led NDA—a move that substantially weakened opposition forces in Bihar. BJP representatives have described Abdullah's comments as a "reality check," though they predict the opposition will disregard these warning signs.

"I believe that we pushed Nitish Kumar back into the arms of the NDA," Abdullah stated at the HT Leadership Summit today, referring to how the Bihar Chief Minister had worked to establish the INDIA bloc in 2023 in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Abdullah, whose National Conference party governs J&K and participates in the opposition bloc, shared his experience from a meeting where Kumar was overlooked for the alliance convenor position.

"I was part of that meeting where we were discussing whether we should make him the convenor of the INDIA bloc. And we effectively, without taking names, suggested, with Nitish Kumar sitting in the meeting, that another leader would have the power of veto (on that)," explained the J&K chief minister.

Kumar's JDU rejoined the NDA before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections following a brief alignment with the RJD. Subsequently, a unified NDA dominated the Bihar elections this year, leaving both the RJD and Congress with historically poor results.

"We are sort of on life support," Abdullah acknowledged when confronted with the fact that some alliance members have already declared it "dead."

Highlighting that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) wasn't part of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, he questioned, "Hypothetically speaking, if tomorrow they were to up and leave (the INDIA bloc at the national level), who's at fault?"

Abdullah called for greater clarity on the bloc's operations. "We should continue to function like one; otherwise, we are a state-specific alliance," he insisted, "But if we call ourselves the INDIA bloc, then you need to be more holistic."

"The BJP fought and contested elections like their lives depended on them, whereas we (INDIA bloc) fight as if we don't care. We are not as committed to the 24X7 cycle of the elections and campaigning as compared to the NDA," he criticized the bloc.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said Abdullah's statements presented a "mirror of reality" to the INDIA alliance.

"Omar Abdullah of the National Conference has shown a mirror of reality, a reality check for the INDI alliance. He acknowledges how the INDI alliance pushed out Nitish Kumar. He acknowledges how the Mahagatbandhan in Bihar was unfair to the JMM, and they are bound to have some kind of disappointment and may also leave," he stated.

"But will they wake up and smell the coffee? No. It's an alliance of convenience," he added, dismissing the bloc as a "figment of imagination" built on commission, corruption, and ambition.