Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh reportedly expressed differing views over Nitish Kumar’s departure from the INDIA bloc during a Congress Working Committee meeting. Which cited Congress sources, Singh argued that the Opposition should have made greater efforts to retain the JDU leader, while Gandhi rejected that assessment.
The reported exchange came during discussions on the Congress’s political strategy and its confrontation with the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. It also brought renewed attention to Nitish Kumar’s January 2024 decision to leave the opposition alliance and return to the BJP-led camp.
Sonia Gandhi Disagrees With Digvijaya Singh
According to the report, Digvijaya Singh suggested that keeping Nitish Kumar within the INDIA bloc could have changed the political situation. He argued that the alliance should have worked to prevent his departure. Gandhi reportedly responded, “Thank God Nitish Kumar left on time,” expressing the view that his eventual return to the BJP camp was expected. Sources quoted in the report said she believed he had repeatedly sought opportunities to leave the Opposition grouping. She also reportedly alleged that the BJP exercised influence over him.
These remarks were attributed to unnamed Congress sources rather than a public statement or an official transcript of the meeting. In January 2024, Nitish Kumar broke with the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar and formed a government with BJP support. He subsequently took oath as chief minister for the ninth time. His departure was a significant setback for the Opposition grouping, in which he had played a role in bringing parties together.
Congress Raises SIR Demands Ahead of Opposition Meet
The internal discussion unfolded as Congress sought to coordinate a wider Opposition response to the SIR exercise. An INDIA bloc meeting was scheduled for Wednesday to discuss a joint strategy concerning electoral rolls and the Election Commission.
According to the supplied report, the CWC adopted a resolution seeking the immediate suspension of SIR and the restoration of 13.3 crore names that Congress claimed had been removed from electoral rolls. The party also demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Congress further called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation, alleging that the Election Commission’s independence had been compromised. These assertions represent the party’s allegations and demands.
The party said it would pursue its campaign through Parliament, legal proceedings and public protests. Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the senior leaders present at the CWC meeting.
