P Chidambaram questions INDIA bloc's strength, calls BJP a political machine | cliQ Latest

In a candid reflection on the state of the opposition alliance, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram expressed doubts about the unity of the INDIA bloc while acknowledging the organisational strength of the BJP. Speaking at a book launch event in Delhi, P Chidambaram said that while the alliance could still be salvaged, its current form appears fragile, raising questions about its ability to counter the BJP in future elections.

Doubts over INDIA bloc unity

The remarks came during the launch of the book Contesting Democratic Deficit: An Inside Story of the 2024 Elections authored by Salman Khurshid and Mrityunjay Singh Yadav at the India International Centre. P Chidambaram said he was unsure if the opposition alliance remained intact, and cast doubt on the optimistic view presented by co-author Yadav. “The future is not so bright as Mrityunjay Singh Yadav says. He feels that the INDIA alliance is intact. I am not sure,” he remarked, suggesting that fellow Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who was involved in alliance negotiations, may have better clarity.

Despite his concerns, P Chidambaram held out hope, saying, “It can be put together. There is still time. There are still events which will unfold.”

BJP described as a powerful political machine

The former finance minister did not mince words when describing the BJP. He called it a “formidably organised” entity, not just a political party but a “machine behind a machine” that exerts control over several institutions, including the Election Commission and local law enforcement agencies. P Chidambaram stressed that the opposition is not facing a conventional political competitor but a well-oiled machinery that must be countered on all fronts.

“In my reading of history, there has been no political party as formidably organised as the BJP. It controls or captures the institutional framework of India,” he said, urging the INDIA bloc to prepare for a comprehensive challenge.

Looking ahead to the 2029 general elections, P Chidambaram said they could either further entrench the BJP or restore full-fledged democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya responded mockingly to P Chidambaram’s remarks, noting that the Congress leader used the word “formidable” six times in under three minutes, and attributed this repetition to the Congress’s string of electoral defeats.

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