NEW DELHI: INDIA bloc leaders on Saturday arrived at a consensus on the appointment of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as chairperson of the opposition grouping, a move that may not have gone down too well with JD(U).
A proposal to appoint JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar as convener was also mooted and unanimously backed by those present, but the Bihar CM is learned to have favoured setting up a team of party chiefs for closer coordination rather than appointing a convenor for the group.Sources said following insistence by some on having a convenor, Nitish favoured RJD’s Lalu Prasad to take up the role.
With JD(U) functionaries emphasising that Kumar was not keen on taking up a formal position within the opposition grouping, Kharge intervened and said the matter should be put off until after he reaches out to the absentees.
Of 28 parties that are part of INDIA, only 10 – Congress, DMK, JD(U), RJD, AAP, CPM, CPI, NCP, JMM and NC – attended the coordination committee meeting. TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were absent. Sena’s Sanjay Raut, however, spoke to the Congress chief later.
Nitish’s name as convener was doing the rounds at a time when there was no plan to have a chairperson of the alliance. But during the December 19 meeting of the bloc in Delhi, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal stumped everyone by suddenly proposing Kharge’s name as chairperson.
As proceedings unspooled on Saturday with Sitaram Yechury proposing Nitish’s name as convener and Lalu seconding it, the Bihar CM was not amused. In fact, Nitish’s suggestion of Lalu as convener was seen as an expression of discontent over the developments.
Credited for bringing together disparate parties, some of which had even proposed a third front earlier, Nitish expected due recognition to him for the role he played. Appointment of a chairperson is seen as sapping the post of convener of much importance. Convened to discuss seat-sharing and joint programmes, the meeting on Saturday saw Rahul Gandhi emphasise the need for all alliance partners to work together. He is learned to have said that Kharge, as chairperson, will ensure closer coordination among the constituents.
Kharge to ensure closer coordination, says Rahul
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were absent. Sena’s Sanjay Raut, however, spoke to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge later.
Nitish’s name as convener was doing the rounds at a time when there was no plan to have a chairperson of the alliance. But during the December 19 meeting of the bloc, Mamata and Arvind Kejriwal stumped everyone by suddenly proposing Kharge’s name as chairperson.
As proceedings unspooled with Sitaram Yechury proposing Nitish’s name as convener and Lalu seconding it, the Bihar CM was not amused. In fact, Nitish’s suggestion of Lalu as convener was seen as an expression of discontent over the developments. Credited for bringing together disparate parties, Nitish expected due recognition to him for the role he played. Appointment of a chairperson is seen as sapping the post of convener of much importance.
Convened to discuss seat-sharing and joint programmes, the meeting saw Rahul Gandhi emphasise the need for all alliance partners to work together. He is learned to have said that Kharge, as chairperson, will ensure closer coordination among the constituents.
Kejriwal and JMM chief Hemant Soren, however, underscored the need for transparency and cordiality. Kejriwal pointed out that his request for an appointment with Kharge and Rahul were not heeded. Interestingly, shortly after the meet, Kharge hosted Kejriwal and AAP MP Raghav Chadha at his house.
Soren pointed to acrimonious comments by INDIA leaders against each other in Bengal, Delhi and Punjab. Without referring to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Soren is learned to have referred to the latter’s statements seeking the TMC government’s dismissal following ED raids in Bengal. K C Venugopal, sources said, clarified the comments were made in a personal capacity.Sources said Yechury, CPI leader D Raja and DMK chief M K Stalin pressed for expeditious conclusion of seat-sharing talks so joint programmes can be firmed up. Stalin said seat-sharing in TN is likely to be completed after Pongal.
Kharge said the coordination committee had a fruitful discussion on the alliance. “Everyone is happy seat-sharing talks are progressing in a positive way.
A proposal to appoint JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar as convener was also mooted and unanimously backed by those present, but the Bihar CM is learned to have favoured setting up a team of party chiefs for closer coordination rather than appointing a convenor for the group.Sources said following insistence by some on having a convenor, Nitish favoured RJD’s Lalu Prasad to take up the role.
With JD(U) functionaries emphasising that Kumar was not keen on taking up a formal position within the opposition grouping, Kharge intervened and said the matter should be put off until after he reaches out to the absentees.
Of 28 parties that are part of INDIA, only 10 – Congress, DMK, JD(U), RJD, AAP, CPM, CPI, NCP, JMM and NC – attended the coordination committee meeting. TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were absent. Sena’s Sanjay Raut, however, spoke to the Congress chief later.
Nitish’s name as convener was doing the rounds at a time when there was no plan to have a chairperson of the alliance. But during the December 19 meeting of the bloc in Delhi, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal stumped everyone by suddenly proposing Kharge’s name as chairperson.
As proceedings unspooled on Saturday with Sitaram Yechury proposing Nitish’s name as convener and Lalu seconding it, the Bihar CM was not amused. In fact, Nitish’s suggestion of Lalu as convener was seen as an expression of discontent over the developments.
Credited for bringing together disparate parties, some of which had even proposed a third front earlier, Nitish expected due recognition to him for the role he played. Appointment of a chairperson is seen as sapping the post of convener of much importance. Convened to discuss seat-sharing and joint programmes, the meeting on Saturday saw Rahul Gandhi emphasise the need for all alliance partners to work together. He is learned to have said that Kharge, as chairperson, will ensure closer coordination among the constituents.
Kharge to ensure closer coordination, says Rahul
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were absent. Sena’s Sanjay Raut, however, spoke to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge later.
Nitish’s name as convener was doing the rounds at a time when there was no plan to have a chairperson of the alliance. But during the December 19 meeting of the bloc, Mamata and Arvind Kejriwal stumped everyone by suddenly proposing Kharge’s name as chairperson.
As proceedings unspooled with Sitaram Yechury proposing Nitish’s name as convener and Lalu seconding it, the Bihar CM was not amused. In fact, Nitish’s suggestion of Lalu as convener was seen as an expression of discontent over the developments. Credited for bringing together disparate parties, Nitish expected due recognition to him for the role he played. Appointment of a chairperson is seen as sapping the post of convener of much importance.
Convened to discuss seat-sharing and joint programmes, the meeting saw Rahul Gandhi emphasise the need for all alliance partners to work together. He is learned to have said that Kharge, as chairperson, will ensure closer coordination among the constituents.
Kejriwal and JMM chief Hemant Soren, however, underscored the need for transparency and cordiality. Kejriwal pointed out that his request for an appointment with Kharge and Rahul were not heeded. Interestingly, shortly after the meet, Kharge hosted Kejriwal and AAP MP Raghav Chadha at his house.
Soren pointed to acrimonious comments by INDIA leaders against each other in Bengal, Delhi and Punjab. Without referring to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Soren is learned to have referred to the latter’s statements seeking the TMC government’s dismissal following ED raids in Bengal. K C Venugopal, sources said, clarified the comments were made in a personal capacity.Sources said Yechury, CPI leader D Raja and DMK chief M K Stalin pressed for expeditious conclusion of seat-sharing talks so joint programmes can be firmed up. Stalin said seat-sharing in TN is likely to be completed after Pongal.
Kharge said the coordination committee had a fruitful discussion on the alliance. “Everyone is happy seat-sharing talks are progressing in a positive way.
