Sonia Gandhi vs Digvijaya Singh as Nitish Kumar's INDIA bloc exit triggers dispute

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh differed over Nitish Kumar’s 2024 exit from the INDIA bloc. While Gandhi said the former Bihar Chief Minister was always looking for a way out of the opposition alliance, Singh argued that he should not have been allowed to leave.The exchange came as the CWC discussed the Congress’ political strategy and its escalating confrontation with the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.According to Congress sources, Digvijaya Singh said at the meeting: “We should not have allowed Nitish Kumar to leave the INDIA bloc. Had he stayed, the political situation would have been different.”Sonia Gandhi responded: “Thank God Nitish Kumar left on time. He was always meant to go there.” She further said Nitish Kumar had been “constantly looking for new ways to exit the INDIA bloc” and alleged that he was being controlled by the BJP, the sources added.In January 2024, Nitish Kumar exited the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar and staked claim to form a new government with the BJP. After the flip-flop move, he went on to take oath for a record ninth time as the Chief Minister. The tense exchange came ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for Wednesday, where opposition parties are expected to discuss a joint strategy over the SIR exercise and the Election Commission.At its meeting on Tuesday, the CWC adopted a resolution demanding the immediate suspension of the SIR, restoration of 13.3 crore names it claimed had been removed from electoral rolls, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.The Congress also demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation, alleging that the Election Commission had been compromised.The party said it would intensify its resistance in Parliament, the courts and on the streets until the poll panel was restored as an independent constitutional authority.The CWC meeting was attended by top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.- Ends(With PTI inputs)