Omar Abdullah created controversy when, at the 23rd Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, he commented on the current state of the INDIA Coalition by stating it is “on life support”. At that event, Abdullah questioned whether or not the coalition is a true unified opposition coalition or if, instead, it is simply a combination of different state parties that do not have any common agenda or purpose.
The inability to work together allowed the BJP to expand its base
Omar Abdullah went on to say that the slow decision-making and lack of clarity of the alliance are what caused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to leave the coalition and reformulate his relationship with the NDA. He said the inability of the opposition coalition to coordinate and cooperate gave the BJP the ability to bolster its position.
Abdullah Admiring the Disciplinary Practices of the BJP
According to Omar Abdullah, the BJP has shown outstanding improvements in its ability to prepare for each election by treating every election as an act of survival. Therefore, if the opposition is to be a legitimate competitor, he believes that it will have to demonstrate that level of seriousness and develop a strategy to achieve it.
No Guarantee of Muslim Vote
Abdullah said that opposition parties should not take support from Muslim voters for granted, as there is no guarantee that this will happen. He emphasized the need to actually engage with the Muslim community rather than offering symbolic support or “token” gestures. Abdullah stated that a real relationship between the party and the community will be necessary for the party to succeed at the polls.
What Will Happen to the Future of the INDIA Coalition?
The Future of the INDIA Coalition Is Uncertain due to Growing Disunity, Some Key Allies Have Already Parted Ways with It, and As a Result of This Disunity, Abdullah’s Statement Points to a Key Question About the Future of the Coalition – Can the INDIA Coalition Create a Strategic Realignment and Rejuvenate Its Capacity for Collective Action? Or, Are We Witnessing a Period of Slow Decline for This Coalition? Analysts Indicate That the Next Few Months of Activity Will Be Important for the Coalition to Either Develop Greater Cohesion Around a Common Agenda or Experience More Erosion Related to the More Effectively Organised BJP’s Actions.
