Leaders from over 26 opposition parties gathered in Mumbai on 31st August under the banner of the INDIA alliance to strategize and establish a cooperative structure to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Prominent opposition figures, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray, and Arvind Kejriwal, convened for an “informal” meeting at the Grand Hyatt hotel. Key decisions regarding the alliance’s future strategy are expected to be made during the formal meeting on Friday. Uddhav Thackeray hosted a dinner for the INDIA alliance leaders following the meeting.
This gathering marks the third meeting of the opposition alliance. The initial meeting took place in June in Patna, while the second meeting in July in Bengaluru finalized the alliance’s name as the “Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance” (INDIA).
During the discussions, the convenor and committee members for INDIA will be finalized. The leaders deliberated on the government’s decision to convene a five-day special session of Parliament, raising questions about the possibility of combining Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, and preparing the alliance accordingly.
The parties also discussed the allocation of specific seats and whether they should organize joint rallies. The Samajwadi Party emphasized the significance of Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming elections and discussed concerns related to the use of central agencies. Initial discussions on regional seat distribution were held, with an emphasis on considering local factors and strengths for Lok Sabha seat sharing.
Several opposition leaders shared their views during the meeting. National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah called for the establishment of a Convener and a Working Group to ensure more frequent meetings and greater effectiveness. He also suggested that the selection of a Prime Ministerial candidate could be decided after the elections.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), stated that the alliance’s Mumbai meeting aimed to develop a strategy to secure victory in the 2024 polls. Aaditya Thackeray, another Shiv Sena leader, mentioned that the choice of a Prime Ministerial candidate for the alliance would be determined later.
Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav emphasized the need to strengthen the unity and sovereignty of the country, protecting the Constitution and democracy. He criticized the Modi government for failing to address issues such as poverty, unemployment, and the welfare of farmers. He stressed the importance of putting up common candidates against the BJP.
Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, highlighted the success of the Maha Gathbandhan in Bihar and the efforts to bring like-minded parties together for a broader Opposition alliance.
Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasized the importance of nurturing the youth and the contributions of past leaders in shaping the country’s direction.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed that the formation of the INDIA alliance aimed to safeguard the country’s federal structure, particularly as non-BJP states faced challenges. He emphasized that the alliance’s goal was not merely to increase or decrease the number of seats but to protect the nation.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren indicated that the meeting would focus on the country, its democracy, and its Constitution.Raghav Chadha, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), suggested that the BJP feared the INDIA alliance and criticized them for linking the name to a terror outfit.
Aaditya Thackeray stated that the INDIA alliance leaders had united to protect democracy and the Constitution.Manoj Jha, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), emphasized that the alliance aimed to reunite the country and rebuild the nation while challenging the ruling party.
Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), noted that the response to INDIA had unsettled the Prime Minister and the BJP. Supriya Sule, the working president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), highlighted the challenge of repairing the damage caused by the policies of the Narendra Modi government, which had resulted in inflation and unemployment.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 3rd September 2023
