The 'INDIA' Grand Alliance, which was formed in unity to oust the BJP from power, is facing a major crisis even before the Lok Sabha elections. The future of the INDIA alliance was cast in doubt when Mamata Banerjee, the undisputed leader of the Trinamool Congress, one of the main parties in the opposition, and the Aam Aadmi Party, which defeated the Congress in the last assembly elections in Punjab, announced their decision to contest alone.

Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann came out with unilateral announcements the other day rejecting the idea that INDIA should have a seat agreement between its allies to face the elections. Mamata is adamant that she will not budge on seat-sharing with any party in the opposition, not just with the Congress. Similarly, Bhagwant Singh also says that AAP will contest alone in all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. The announcement of the Punjab Chief Minister, which has put the alliance move in jeopardy, comes at a time when talks are going on with the AAP Congress leaders to reach an agreement on the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi.

Bengal has 42 Lok Sabha seats. Mamata has taken the stand that only two of these can be given to the Congress. Congress, on the other hand, initially demanded 12 seats. Later it was reduced to six seats, but Mamata's position is that Congress should not expect more than two. The reason for Mamata's inflexible stance is that the Trinamool Party, which is dominant in Bengal, can face the elections alone. They reckon that bringing the waning Congress with them will not be of much benefit. They have made it clear that they have decided to face the election alone, but they will continue to be a part of the alliance after the election.

Almost the same is the position of AAP in Punjab. Punjab Chief Minister's position is that they do not need to contest with Congress. Even as the INDIA alliance is fraying in Bengal and Punjab, concerns have been raised that the volatility seen in Janata Dal-S leader Nitish Kumar in Bihar will further weaken the alliance. Nitish, who has always had an eye on power, is showing signs of leaning towards the BJP again. He was a part of NDA till some time ago. He jumped to the other side with a bigger dream. Some suspect that his current stance is for further bargaining with the Indian alliance.

In any case, as the general election is nearing, there will be many more changes of attitude like this. It is the dream of all parties to be a part of the Delhi administration.

The Congress is not expressing any concern about the new decision of the Trinamool Party and AAP, but internally it is under pressure. Congress leaders are optimistic that the misunderstandings will be resolved through mutual talks and the alliance will move forward. As nothing is impossible in politics, the hope of Congress will probably come true. In any case, there is no doubt that national politics will be shaken by small earthquakes like this in the coming days.