New Delhi, July 17, 2023: The political landscape in India is set for a significant upheaval as top leaders of 24 opposition parties gather for a crucial meeting called by the Congress. The meeting aims to strategize and create a united front for the upcoming Monsoon Session of parliament and the highly anticipated 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Among the key topics on the agenda is the discussion of ironing out differences among the various parties and projecting a cohesive and united front in the next year’s general elections. Sources reveal that there is a proposal to establish a subcommittee responsible for drafting a common minimum programme and communication points for the opposition alliance.
Additionally, the leaders also plan to suggest a name for the alliance, signifying their commitment to presenting a strong and united face against the ruling government.
A significant development occurred when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) decided to participate in the meeting after days of deliberation. The Congress’s support for the AAP’s campaign against a contentious central order on Delhi’s bureaucracy played a crucial role in the party’s decision to join the meet.
The gathering will witness prominent leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Arvind Kejriwal, MK Stalin, Nitish Kumar, and Hemant Soren, among others, discussing and strategizing their collective approach for the upcoming elections. However, K Chandrasekhar Rao, Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, and Naveen Patnaik will not be in attendance.
The opposition’s meeting comes amidst the backdrop of the split within the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the violent West Bengal panchayat polls, which resulted in significant casualties. The state units of the Congress and Left parties have accused the Trinamool Congress government of oppression during the elections.
The meeting aims to capitalize on the momentum gained during the previous opposition unity meet, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. In a parallel exercise, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is conducting a mega meet in New Delhi, striving to showcase their strength and numbers ahead of the 2024 general elections.
With both sides gearing up to assert their positions, the political landscape is bound to witness intriguing developments as the Monsoon Session commences on July 20.
