Chidambaram Questions INDIA Bloc Unity, Calls BJP ‘Formidably Organised’
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday expressed doubts over the unity of the INDIA bloc and called the BJP the most “formidably organised” political force in India’s history.
Speaking at the launch of the book Contesting Democratic Deficit by Salman Khurshid and Mritunjay Singh Yadav, Chidambaram said he was “not sure” whether the opposition INDIA bloc was still intact. He added that the alliance “shows at the seams that it is frayed”.
“The future (of INDIA bloc) is not so bright… It is only Salman who can answer, because he was part of the negotiating team. If the alliance is totally intact, I will be very happy,” Chidambaram said, while maintaining hope that it can still be “put together”.
Chidambaram praised the BJP’s structure and strategic prowess, warning the opposition that it faced a formidable challenge. “In my reading of history, there has been no political party so formidably organised as the BJP. It’s a machine behind a machine,” he said.
The BJP, he added, has a grip on several institutions, including the Election Commission and police forces. “They are able to control and sometimes capture these institutions,” Chidambaram said, while acknowledging this was “as much as can be allowed in a democracy”.
Despite his concerns, Chidambaram reiterated faith in India’s electoral system. “You can tinker with elections, but you can’t get away with them. You can’t have elections where the ruling party gets 98% of votes — that’s not possible in India,” he said.
However, he warned that the outcome of the 2029 general elections could be critical. “If it takes a decisive turn to strengthen the BJP, we are beyond repair,” Chidambaram stated, calling the next general election vital to restoring full-fledged democracy.
Reacting to the Congress leader’s remarks, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said Chidambaram’s statement reflects the internal despair of the opposition. “Even Rahul Gandhi’s close aides know Congress has no future,” Bhandari posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The INDIA bloc — a coalition of opposition parties including Congress, AAP, DMK, and others — was formed to present a united challenge to the BJP in the 2024 general elections. However, internal differences and electoral setbacks have raised questions about its cohesion and long-term viability.
