Indian assembly election results: BJP's lead in three states prompts Cong to call INDIA bloc meet - Report

As India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads in the election results counting in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh – and Congress only setting its dominant foot in Telangana, a sudden meeting of opposition bloc INDIA was called on Wednesday, as per reports.

INDIA bloc's next meeting, which has been called by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Wednesday, is likely to sketch plans for next year's Lok Sabha election, reported the NDTV.

The news of a meeting by the INDIA bloc comes as Congress is trailing by a huge margin against its rival BJP in all the above three states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, according to the latest trends. Telangana is the only state where the Congress is likely to emerge victorious defeating the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi of K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Also read: Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 Results Live Updates: BJP maintains healthy lead as see-saw game continues

The meeting is scheduled amid reports regarding turbulence and internal rifts in the bloc and its dangling future.

Is INDIA alliance drifting apart or uniting for future battles?

The rifts within the bloc came under focus earlier this month after Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is considered as INDIA alliance's founding member, accused the Congress of lacking in preparation for the crucial general election to be held next year.

"We have been speaking to them... pushing them forward in the INDIA alliance. But, of late, there has not been much progress on that front. The Congress seems to be more interested in the five assembly polls. We agreed to assign Congress the leading role. But it appears they will call the next meeting only after they are through with the state elections," Kumar was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The last meeting of the INDIA bloc was held from August 31 to September 1 in Mumbai after which the next date was set to be announced by the Congress.

Watch: Telangana assembly election results 2023: Congress takes early lead

The alliance had then stated that it planned to contest the 2024 election along with the current state elections "together as far as possible". However, the resolution had raised eyebrows and questions over the unity of the opposition as it tries to push hard to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from winning an unprecedented third term.

The comment of Nitish Kumar had surfaced after a squabble between the Congress and Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav over seat-sharing in Madhya Pradesh, as per reports. Yadav had said that the party had ignored a gentleman's agreement.

"If I knew, wouldn't have spoken to Congress," said the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party chief.

(With inputs from agencies)