‘What has he lacked as LoP?’: Omar Abdullah backs Rahul Gandhi amid Mani Aiyar’s remarks on INDIA bloc leadership | India News
New Delhi: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Omar Abdullah Congress MP supported on Monday Rahul Gandhi After the veteran of the team Mani Shankar Iyer West Bengal Chief Minister’s proposal in public Mamata Banerjee — instead of Gandhi — as leader of the opposition Bharat Bloc.Also Read | ‘Mamata di chhala…’: Mani Shankar Aiyar’s advice to Rahul Gandhi to lead the Bharat BlocAbdullah said that Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was raising issues at every opportunity and taking on the BJP-led government, and questioned what more his detractors expected from him.
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister’s National Conference is among the constituents of the Congress-led front.“Tell me, what does Rahul Gandhi lack in contesting against the BJP? He is consistently someone who targets the BJP, always opposes the BJP and targets the government on every issue. That is the job of the opposition leader. What else do you want from Rahul Gandhi? In this regard, can anyone tell me what is lacking?” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg.Also Read | ‘I’m not Rahulian’: Mani Shankar Aiyar name-calling splits Congress Speaking in Kolkata on Sunday, Aiyar suggested that the Congress should hand over leadership of the Bharat Bloc to regional parties and suggested that Banerjee – a three-term chief minister who leads the Trinamool Congress in electoral West Bengal – should lead the national opposition alliance.Reacting to Iyer’s comments, Abdullah described them as the former diplomat’s “personal opinion”.“Now, as for Mani Shankar Aiyar, he has given his personal opinion. He has a right to his opinion; no one can say that he has no right to speak his mind,” the National Conference vice-president said.Also Read | ‘Arash to Farsh’: Mani Shankar Iyer’s ‘Rahulian’ outrage and ‘chacha’ syndrome“But ultimately, when a decision is taken, it will be taken collectively by the India bloc. Everyone will discuss together. So far, there has been no discussion on leadership in any meeting of the India bloc,” he added.The Bharat Alliance was formed in July 2023 to fight the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While the alliance failed to prevent the BJP from coming to power for a third consecutive term, it succeeded in pushing the ruling party below the halfway mark for the first time since 2014.(with PTI input)
