Backchannel diplomacy: Untying INDIA's Gordian knot of brinkmanship

As the 'backroom boys' convene to ensure constituents gather in Mumbai for the bloc's third summit, several trends have emerged since the inaugural meeting in Patna. ARCHIS MOHAN writes

Swift backchannel communications among the strategists of the 26-party Opposition bloc succeeded in untangling the brinkmanship knots of some of its leaders, thereby staying on an even keel within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) alliance over the past week.

As they convene to ensure that constituents gather in Mumbai for the third summit at the end of the month, with some deliverables and no further attrition, several trends have emerged since their inaugural meeting in Patna two months ago.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) represents the voice of the critical smaller parties in the alliance, including the Samajwadi Party,