The INDIA alliance, consisting of 28 opposition parties, including the Congress, has rescheduled its crucial party head meeting to the third week of December following reports of discord within the bloc. Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had called for a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, which received a lukewarm response from several front-line leaders.
stated that she was unaware of the scheduled meeting and would have attended if informed. Furthermore, key opposition leaders such as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will be unable to attend for a variety of reasons.
On Wednesday, parliamentary leaders from the INDIA bloc will convene at Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence for a coordination meeting. Gurdeep Singh Sappal, Kharge’s coordinator, confirmed the meeting and announced that the next meeting of Party Presidents and India Alliance Heads would be held in the third week of December to accommodate all members.
The agenda is expected to focus on crucial topics, notably seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, which are merely four months away. The meeting holds significance for Congress, particularly after losing key states in recent Assembly polls.
However, Congress might face challenges within the bloc, especially with the Samajwadi Party expressing discontent and accusing Congress of not fulfilling commitments during the assembly elections. The meeting’s success is crucial for Congress if it aims to present a formidable opposition against PM Narendra Modi and the BJP in the 2024 elections.
The India alliance aims to counter PM Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and prevent its re-election in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Their previous meetings emphasized a united approach and collaborative contesting in the upcoming elections, aiming to adopt a spirit of cooperation for finalizing seat-sharing arrangements.