All is not seemingly well within the Opposition’s INDIA alliance, following a series of crushing electoral defeats. While the Congress’ performance in the Lok Sabha elections had raised hopes for the coalition, the recent setbacks in the assembly polls appear to have brought the alliance to yet another critical juncture.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday advocated that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should lead INDIA bloc, the Opposition alliance formed to challenge the ruling BJP. He emphasised that Mamata should be given the opportunity to lead the alliance.

“We will back Mamata. She should be given the leadership of the INDIA bloc. We will form the government again in 2025,” he said, as reported by ANI. When asked about Congress’s reservation regarding Mamata Banerjee’s request, he stated that the party’s objection is irrelevant. “Congress’s opposition will not make any difference,” India Today quoted him as saying.

Earlier, Lalu’s son and senior RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had said that he had “no objection” to Mamata Banerjee leading the coalition. But he had emphasised that the decision should be made through consensus.

Lalu’s endorsement of Mamata came two days after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) brought up the issue. Party MP Kirti Azad had stated that Banerjee is the “most suitable” leader for the role. He highlighted her consistent victories over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in her state.

His colleague Kalyan Banerjee also shared the sentiment on Tuesday. He told News18 during an interview, “It is clear that Mamata Banerjee is the strongest and most popular leader in the Opposition.”

Taking a jibe at the Congress, Kalyan Banerjee said, “One must not be driven by ego. Just because Mamata Banerjee becomes the leader of the INDIA bloc does not mean she is vying for the prime minister’s position. The issue with the Congress is their constant fear of Opposition leaders. They must now be realising their mistake of sidelining Mamata Banerjee in 1997.”

Reaffirming his support for the West Bengal chief minister, he emphasised, “No one in the INDIA bloc can match her. She is the best.”

He further stated, “Mamata Banerjee single-handedly defeated the CPI(M). She knows how to rise to the occasion, unlike the Congress, which has repeatedly failed to provide leadership to the opposition.”

Earlier this month, Mamata had hinted at the need for a more inclusive approach in the Opposition camp. She had taken a subtle jab at the Congress. She said “everyone needs to be taken along” as the alliance prepares to take on the BJP-led central government, NDTV reported.

She responded, when asked why she had not taken charge, “If given the opportunity, I would ensure its smooth functioning. I do not want to go outside Bengal, but I can run it from here.”

She said in an interview, as reported by PTI, “I had formed the INDIA bloc, now it is up to those leading the front to manage it. If they cannot run the show, what can I do? I would just say that everyone needs to be taken along.”

Reactions from INDIA Bloc Leaders

Responding to Lalu’s support for Mamata, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut responded said no one is questioning Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. “He is the leader of all of us,” Raut said. “If some of our allies, including the TMC, Lalu Ji and Akhilesh Ji, have differing opinions on the INDIA alliance, it is important to listen. We have all come together to form this alliance. If anyone has suggestions to strengthen it, they should be considered. The Congress should also join the discussion and present its views,” he has been quoted by ANI as saying.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi stated, “The INDIA alliance will make a unanimous decision. Mamata Banerjee’s willingness to lead is a significant suggestion. If she takes on this responsibility, we are confident she will fulfill it and strengthen the alliance.”

JMM MP Mahua Maji remained non-committal and noted that her party had not yet made an official statement. “Every party has its opinion. When the meeting takes place, whatever is decided unanimously will be acceptable to our party,” she said.

Since Mamata Banerjee expressed her interest in leading the INDIA bloc last week, a number of non-Congress parties have rallied behind her, including Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP. Leaders from the Samajwadi Party, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) were quick to back her proposal.

Notably, the YSRCP, which had been seen as close to the BJP until it suffered a defeat in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, has also joined the growing support for Mamata Banerjee’s leadership of the INDIA bloc.

“Mamata Banerjee is an ideal candidate to lead the INDIA alliance as she has the necessary political and electoral experience. Didi is also the Chief Minister of a large state with 42 Lok Sabha seats and has proven herself time and again,” tweeted YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijayasai Reddy.

This shift is being viewed as Jagan Reddy’s attempt to align more closely with the opposition alliance after his efforts to build ties with the BJP faltered.