P. Chidambaram Flags INDIA Bloc’s Fragile Future, Warns Congress Ahead of 2029

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi — Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P. Chidambaram has sparked a political stir with his candid remarks on the fragility of the INDIA bloc and the organisational strength of the BJP. Speaking at the launch of Contesting Democratic Deficit, a book co-authored by Congress leader Salman Khurshid, Chidambaram acknowledged uncertainty about the opposition alliance's cohesion, particularly with the 2029 general elections on the horizon.

“The future is not so bright,” Chidambaram remarked, casting doubt on the INDIA bloc’s ability to stay united. “If the alliance is intact, I’d be very happy—but it seems frail. It can be put together; there’s still time and events yet to unfold.”

He then issued a stark warning to his own party and other opposition groups. “In my reading of history, no political party has been so formidably organised as the BJP. It is not just another party—it is formidable in every department.”

The BJP responded swiftly, with leaders like Pradeep Bhandari and Rajeev Chandrasekhar using Chidambaram’s words to underscore what they view as the opposition’s internal disarray. “Even Rahul Gandhi’s close aides know Congress has no future,” Bhandari posted on X.

The comments come ahead of a critical electoral cycle. Bihar, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls between 2025 and 2027—each representing a major test for both the BJP and INDIA alliance. Victories in these states could either cement the BJP’s dominance or offer a resurgence opportunity for the opposition.

The INDIA bloc, formed in July 2023, aimed to unite anti-BJP forces after a string of election losses. However, internal rifts over leadership and seat sharing have marred its effectiveness. Even co-author Salman Khurshid admitted at the event that while alliances are needed, they must be “good ones.”

Chidambaram’s warning underscores the urgency for course correction among opposition ranks if they are to mount a credible challenge to the BJP’s powerful electoral machinery in 2029.