Congress Rewards Outgoing CMs: Kharge Declares Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel As Members Of Committee For INDI Alliance

Just prior to the commencement of the INDI Alliance meeting on Tuesday (19 December), Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge declared the formation of a five-member National Alliance Committee (NAC). The committee comprises of party stalwarts such as Ashok Gehlot, Salman Khurshid, Bhupesh Baghel, Mukul Wasnik, and Mohan Prakash.

While Wasnik will head the NAC, two Chief Ministers, who could not lead Congress to retain power in the recently-held Assembly elections, Gehlot of Rajasthan and Baghel of Chhattisgarh, have also been given responsibility.

“In the run-up to the General Elections-2024, Honourable Congress President has constituted an National Alliance Committee…,”party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said in a statement as per The Hindu report.

The announcement's timing holds importance as it was made just prior to the gathering of the senior leaders from the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive (INDI) Alliance in the capital.

Inter-party disputes over alliances have surfaced, particularly when former Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Kamal Nath declined to allocate any seats to the Samajwadi Party (SP) during the recent State Assembly election, an election they did not win. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav even considered leaving the INDI Alliance, however, it is understood that Kharge has since connected with him.

Collaborations with other allies in India have also turned into a contentious issue. The State Congress units in Punjab and Delhi have resisted any association with the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Likewise, in Kerala, the Congress does not anticipate forming an alliance with the Left Front. Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has voiced concerns about conceding too many seats to the Congress.