"There is still time": Kapil Sibal urges Congress to take initiative on INDIA Bloc
Feb 03, 2024
New Delhi [India], February 3 : Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday affirmed that there is still time to strengthen the opposition coalition, the INDIA bloc while urging Congress to take the initiative.
Speaking on the matter, Sibal underscored the necessity for Congress to lead the initiative and convene a meeting involving all members.
"There is still time, there is still time, if Congress takes the initiative in this, calls everyone together. ... Right now, held up in this dispute, we are wasting our time," Kapil Sibal said while referring to the parties leaving the bloc.
Sibal expressed optimism regarding the potential for constructive dialogue and resolution within a defined timeframe.
"It is also possible if we decide in the next five, 10-15 days, then a good option can be created," he remarked.
Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Sibal deferred the ultimate decision to the collective discussion and deliberation among concerned parties.
"It will be up to them for discussion, not me. But if I say whether it can be made or not, it depends on the conversation," he stated.
Earlier, on January 31, the INDIA bloc parties met in the national capital to discuss the seat-sharing agenda for the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK leader TR Baalu and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury were pictured leaving Kharge's residence after the meeting.
One of the key architects of the Bloc, Nitish pulled out of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Bihar as he took oath as chief minister for the ninth time with support from the NDA earlier in January.
Cracks in the INDIA bloc widened with West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee giving a cold shoulder to the Congress.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have already indicated that the parties will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls alone from West Bengal, Punjab and Haryana.
General Secretary of Samajwadi Party Ram Gopal Yadav on Thursday said that the seat-sharing for the alliance with Congress in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is 'almost complete' and will be revealed soon."It's very positive and almost done... The declaration will be done at an auspicious moment. Just wait and watch till the announcement is done," SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav told ANI.
