Sonia, Rahul to Lead Opposition Unity Efforts at Second Meeting in Bengaluru

New Delhi, July 12, 2023: In a bid to consolidate opposition forces ahead of the 2024 national elections, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are set to participate in the second meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru on July 18. Invitations have been extended to 24 parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), signaling a concerted effort to foster unity against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

As part of the ongoing endeavors to forge a united front, Sonia Gandhi is expected to host a dinner for opposition leaders on the preceding day. The Congress-led initiative aims to counter the BJP’s dominance and present a formidable challenge in the upcoming electoral contest.

The inaugural meeting, initiated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar, witnessed the participation of around 15 parties. However, the subsequent split within Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra, with his nephew Ajit Pawar aligning with the BJP coalition, has somewhat dampened the opposition’s unity drive. This development has fueled speculation about the fragmentation of opposition alliances in other states, such as Bihar.

Despite these challenges, sources indicate that eight new parties are set to join the Bengaluru meeting. Notable additions include the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani).

The Bengaluru meeting is also likely to be overshadowed by the recent split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has raised questions about the future of opposition unity. However, the Congress has said that it is committed to the opposition unity process and that the Bengaluru meeting will be an important step in that direction.