INDIA bloc meeting Mumbai Highlights: The two-day meeting of the Opposition INDIA alliance in Mumbai concluded on Friday, with the bloc resolving to to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together “as far as possible”, asserting that seat-sharing arrangements in states will be concluded at the earliest in a spirit of “give-and-take”. Several leaders of the Opposition bloc, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad, among others, spoke during the press conference. Rahul Gandhi said that two important decisions were taken in the two-day session. First, a coordination committee will be constituted, and second a seat sharing formula will be discussed soon and a resolution will be brought soon.
Top leaders of the opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA began hectic parleys on the first day of the third joint meeting of the alliance in Mumbai on Thursday to chart out a concrete roadmap to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
INDIA Alliance Meet Day 2 Highlights: 63 leaders of 28 parties in Mumbai for INDIA meet; Read all the latest updates from the INDIA alliance meeting in Mumbai.
Top leaders of the Opposition bloc INDIA are expected to give shape to their poll plans for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on Friday as they gear up to take on the NDA amid expectations of an early election.
The leaders, who have gathered here from across the country, will deliberate on their strategy and move forward on specific issues like setting up a coordination committee and form sub groups to work on their common agenda, media strategy, joint actions and programmes.
During informal talks over dinner on Thursday night, the leaders stressed on the urgency to finalise seat sharing and come out with a joint agenda in a few weeks' time.
VIDEO | Poster of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde reading put up outside Grand Hyatt, Mumbai where the two-day INDIA alliance meeting is being held. pic.twitter.com/nWBmmebzaA
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 1, 2023
Here's the full schedule of the INDIA alliance meeting to be held on Friday.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, talking to the media about the happenings within the informal gathering of INDIA alliance leaders, said, “We have less time in hand. There is no time to waste. We need to be on the ground sooner,” news agency PTI reported.
"We have less time in hand. There is no time to waste. We need to be on the ground sooner," said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in response to a media query on what transpired in the INDIA alliance's informal meeting earlier today. pic.twitter.com/xkTUadgOS4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 31, 2023
On Thursday, around the same time as the third meeting of the Opposition bloc began with an informal gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet announced a five-day special session of Parliament from September 18 to September 22. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who sought to rake up the Adani issue afresh by holding a press conference in Mumbai, termed it a “panic decision” with the Opposition leaders set to discuss it during the Friday meeting.