Amid reports of tussle in the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said on Monday that the meeting of the opposition members will take place after the assembly polls. Stressing the importance of assembly polls, Raut mentioned that the Congress holds a dominant position and questioned, If the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not defeated in the assembly polls, how will we prepare for Lok Sabha elections?

“In the states in which there are elections, Congress is the number-one party...If we do not defeat the BJP in the assembly elections, how will we prepare for the Lok Sabha elections?” Raut said.

“After the completion of elections in five states, meetings of the INDIA alliance will take place again,” he added.

An editorial in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' also said the assembly polls scheduled this month in five states are a "dress rehearsal" for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

The comments come after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar blamed Congress' reoccupation with assembly polls in five states for the INDIA coalition's inability to build on the momentum it gained in recent months. The editorial in Saamana said that the Bihar CM should not air his concern publicly, as this makes the BJP happy.

The Congress has not allied with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in Madhya Pradesh. All three of them are participating in the polls separately, despite being part of the INDIA bloc.

"The INDIA alliance was formed to unseat the dictatorial regime at the Centre and everyone agrees to it. The politics in states is different and major political parties have to take decisions accordingly," the editorial said.

On Sunday, Akhilesh Yadav launched a fresh attack on Congress and accused the party of betraying him. He asked if the Grand Old Party has betrayed him then how the public is significant for it.

"Do not vote for the Congress. It is a very cunning party. It is now being supportive of the caste census for the sake of votes. If It has betrayed us, how come the public is significant for it", Akhilesh Yadav said at a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Jatara Constituency of Tikamgarh district, as quoted by news agency ANI.

The spat between the INDIA bloc allies started after they failed to reach a consensus over seat-sharing arrangements for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls scheduled for November 17.

(With input from agencies)