In anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party has initiated seat-sharing discussions with the opposition alliance known as INDIA. After undergoing extensive internal consultations, senior Congress leaders have been tasked with engaging other leaders from the 28-party opposition grouping to devise a seat-sharing plan for the crucial general election.

Formal negotiations for seat-sharing with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and Delhi are slated to commence on Monday. The Congress's committee on seat-sharing, consisting of five members including convener Mukul Wasnik and senior leaders Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, has already conducted internal consultations with state Congress chiefs. Their findings have been subsequently submitted to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

The issue of seat-sharing has proven to be a contentious matter among the parties within the anti-BJP bloc, leading to occasional tensions in recent times. However, in an effort to defeat the BJP in 2024, the opposition alliance has agreed to field a single opposition candidate in Lok Sabha election seats against the ruling party.

While the seat-sharing talks are expected to be challenging, there are states where the Congress has pre-existing alliances with local parties, making negotiations smoother. For instance, in states like Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and Jharkhand, the Congress has already established ties with the DMK, JD(U)-RJD, and JMM respectively.

However, certain states pose obstacles for the Congress in the seat-sharing discussions. In West Bengal, cracks have already started to appear within INDIA after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) offered just two seats to the Congress. The Congress responded by asserting that it does not require "Mamata's mercy." Additionally, Kerala, Delhi, and Punjab are likely to present challenges due to disagreements and existing partnerships with local parties.

In Kerala, where the Congress holds 19 out of the 20 seats, reaching an agreement with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) seems unlikely as it would require the displacement of Congress's current MPs. Similarly, in Punjab, both the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress are confident in their electoral success and are reluctant to enter into any sort of arrangement.

The Congress also faces difficulties in forging alliances with the Aam Aadmi Party, particularly at the state-level. Differences between the two parties have often arisen when it comes to alliances in various states. Furthermore, tensions persist between the Congress and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of seats given to his party in the recent Madhya Pradesh assembly elections and over certain statements made by Kamal Nath.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are being touted as frontrunners for the leadership of the INDIA alliance. Their selection is expected to consolidate the opposition against the ruling BJP.

With the Lok Sabha elections drawing nearer, the outcomes of these seat-sharing talks will play a critical role in shaping the political landscape of India. All eyes are on the Congress party as it aims to strengthen the opposition alliance to challenge the BJP's dominance.