Opposition Meet Highlights: Oppn alliance named I.N.D.I.A, next meeting to be held in Mumbai

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While addressing a press conference after the Opposition meet, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, ” This fight is not between 2 political formations butthe fight is to defend the idea of India. If you will see history, you will find that nobody has been able to fight the idea of India. It's a fight between the idea of India and Narendra Modi.”

While addressing a press conference after the Opposition meet, AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “In the last 9 years, PM Modi could have done a lot of things but he destroyed all the sectors. We have gathered here not for ourselves but to save the country from hatred.”

The next meeting of Opposition parties will be held in Mumbai, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday after the meeting. The date is yet to be announced.

An eleven-member coordination committee will be set up, Mallikarjun Kharge said addressing reporters, adding that the members of the committee will be announced in the Mumbai meet.

“A secretariat will be set up for campaign management, mostly in Delhi,” added Kharge.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Khage took a dig at the BJP, saying it used its ally parties for votes and later discarded them. “The BJP did not get 303 seats by itself. It used the votes of its allies and came to power and then discarded them,” a part of his tweet read.

UBT Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday hailed the united opposition new name – INDIA. She tweeted, “So 2024 will be Team INDIA Vs Team NDA Chak De, INDIA!”

The Opposition alliance has been rebranded as I.N.D.I.A (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) announced.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said his party wasn't interested in power or the Prime Minister's post. Taking aim at the BJP, he said the ruling party's president and party leaders are “running from state to state” to patch up with old allies. “We are 26 parties, in government in 11 states; BJP didn't get 303 seats by itself, used votes of allies then discarded them,” he said at the meeting.

Posters blaming Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the Sultanganj bridge collapse in his state surfaced at a key traffic junction in Bengaluru before of the Opposition parties meet on Tuesday.

Police swung into action soon after learning about the posters put up at 'Chalukya Circle', just a stone's throw from the venue of the meeting which is being attended by Nitish Kumar.

One of the posters read, “Welcome to Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Government of Bihar. Sultanganj Bridge, Nitish Kumar's gift to Bihar that keeps collapsing. While bridges in Bihar cannot withstand his reign, count on him to lead the 'Opposition Party' campaign.”

Another poster said, “The unstable Prime Ministerial contender. Bangalore rolls out the Red Carpet for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. First date of Sultanganj bridge collapse – April 2022. Second date of Sultanganj bridge collapse – June 2023.” Police have started investigation to find out who had put up these posters. (PTI)

“We have commenced our Opposition leaders’ meeting in Bengaluru by offering condolences to former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy. We offered a silent prayer for the departed soul before starting the proceedings of the day,” senior Congress leader K C Venugopal said. 

BJP's Karnataka unit lashed out at the Opposition leaders as they are meeting for the second day in Bengaluru to chalk out a plan to take on the BJP in the general elections. 

“A meeting of “Opportunists” who do not want the welfare of the country, who are always in pursuit of personal interests, who are struggling to maintain their existence, is taking place in Bangalore today. Their main agenda is to hate the world's favorite leader @narendra modi,” the BJP tweeted.

The Opposition unity meeting to be held today will discuss giving the proposed anti-BJP grouping a name, structure and a common agenda and campaign programme, besides figuring out a roadmap towards seat-sharing. The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting was read out by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, with parties invited to give their suggestions at the talks.

Broadly the agenda comprises six proposals — setting up separate subcommittees for drafting a common agenda and communication points for the alliance for the 2024 general elections; chalking out a joint programme for parties, including rallies, conventions and agitations; deciding seat-sharing on a state to state basis; suggesting a name for the alliance; setting up a common secretariat for it; and discussing EVMs and suggesting reforms to the Election Commission.

Karnataka | Second day of the joint Opposition meeting will begin in Bengaluru today. At least 24 like-minded parties are participating in the meeting. Visuals outside Taj West End hotel.

“Well begun is half done! Like-minded opposition parties shall closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare. We want to free the people of India from the autocratic and anti-people politics of hate, division, economic inequality and loot. We want an India which is governed by Constitutional principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. We want an India which provides hope and faith to the weakest person. United We Stand, for this INDIA,” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted as day 1 ended over a dinner party.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has left from his residence in Mumbai to participate in the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru today.

Pawar’s office earlier confirmed his absence on day one of the meeting being held days after a split in the NCP.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Bengaluru for the Opposition meeting with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, and AAP leaders Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh.

The Opposition meeting of 24 parties got underway in Bengaluru a short while ago. Bihar Chief Minister was seen arriving at the venue of the meeting a short while ago.

The dinner meeting of leaders from 24 Opposition parties has begun in Bengaluru under the chairmanship of the Congress party. Top Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, MK Stalin, Arvind Kejriwal, Nitish Kumar, Hemant Soren, Bhagwant Mann, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are present at the meeting.

Former Union minister and veteran BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad called the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru “an alliance of opportunists”.

“Such an alliance of opportunists not good for India's present and future,” Prasad said, reported news agency PTI.

Sonia Gandhi will host a dinner tonight for the leaders of the 24 Opposition parties attending the Bengaluru huddle.

Taking a shot at the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on July 18, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was rattled by the Opposition unity and was trying to bring “splintered” parties together in order to show numbers.

“The PM had said ‘Main akela kaafi hoon saare Opposition ke liye’, while speaking in Rajya Sabha, then why is he bringing together 30 parties? Who are these 30 parties, what are their names, are they all registered with the Election Commission,” Kharge added. He was referring to the PM's remarks in February when he said that he alone outweighs those who oppose him through slogans.

Ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, former Karnataka CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said the sole aim of the meeting is to “bring down PM Modi”. He slammed the meeting saying it is called a “Mahagathbandhan” but there is no “bandhan” (union). “When zero is added to zero, it is nothing,” he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal left for Bengaluru on Monday, ahead of the Opposition meeting there. His car was seen leaving his Delhi residence this afternoon.