Bengaluru Opposition Meeting Day 2 Highlights: As many as 26 parties met on July 17-18 for a brainstorming session in Bengaluru in a bid to strategize a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On the first day of the key meet, the Congress chaired a crucial meeting of Opposition leaders who arrived in Bengaluru on Monday to devise a strategy to counter the ruling party.
During the evening, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hosted a dinner of Opposition leaders at the invitation of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers M K Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad were among those who attended the dinner.
On Day 2, Opposition leaders held deliberations on various agendas and decided their alliance will be named I.N.D.I.A (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). The mega meet came about three weeks after the first meeting that took place in Patna, Bihar on June 23. The gathering was seen as a boost to Opposition unity, as over ten additional parties joined the huddle this time.
Also Read: AAP to join Congress in mega Opposition meet in Bengaluru, 2024 roadmap on agenda
Bengaluru Opposition meet Live Updates: Follow this space for the latest news from the second day of the Opposition meeting. Deliberations on seat sharing and common programme to be done today.
Ahead of the opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “The message of this meet is to the people that they don't need to worry and we're uniting to raise their issues.”
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu CM-DMK chief MK Stalin and party MP TR Baalu arrive in Bengaluru for the joint Opposition meeting.
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023
(Video: MK Stalin official) pic.twitter.com/y8OhZDnYQ5
#WATCH | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee arrives at Kolkata airport
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023
She will be attending the #OppositionMeeting that is going to take place today and tomorrow in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/yEGkC39r2F
AAP leader Raghav Chadha on Monday said, “After seeing opposition unity, BJP is getting sleepless nights.” His remark comes ahead of the opposition meeting in Bengaluru on July 17, 18.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to express his gratitude to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge following the latter's promise of support to the Aam Aadmi Party in opposing the Centre's ordinance on Delhi services. “Thank u Kharge ji for standing wid the people of Delhi. This ordinance is anti-India and anti-national and ought to be fought tooth and nail,” Kejriwal tweeted.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday took potshots at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for seeking support from the Congress on the issue of Centre's ordinance on the control of services in Delhi. BJP's Manoj Tiwari said that the Delhi CM had left no stone unturned to criticise Congress, but has now bowed before them on the matter.
VIDEO | "Arvind Kejriwal left no stone unturned to criticise the Congress and today he has bowed before them," says BJP leader Manoj Tiwari on AAP seeking Congress' support against Centre's Ordinance on control of services in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/2phoZhfcpA
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 17, 2023
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids on Monday at the premises of Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudi, chief minister M K Stalin said and added this was part of the tactics of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre to divert attention from the meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru.
VIDEO | Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi leave for Bengaluru to attend the two-day mega opposition meeting. pic.twitter.com/YP9hEYe9cI
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 17, 2023
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan arrived in Bengaluru to take part in the two-day Opposition conclave that will start today.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “All Opposition leaders are going to meet today and tomorrow regarding forthcoming Parliament elections. Our only aim is to defeat BJP in the forthcoming Parliament elections. We have the same agenda – we have to save our nation and Constitution. So, we have planned to contest the forthcoming polls united…”
VCK is currently a Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) member, headed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). DMK is also scheduled to attend the conclave.
#WATCH | VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan arrives in Bengaluru for the joint Opposition meeting; says, "All Opposition leaders are going to meet today and tomorrow regarding forthcoming Parliament elections. Our only aim is to defeat BJP in the forthcoming Parliament elections.… pic.twitter.com/FOCgZkkh1I
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023
Ahead of the Opposition meet in Bengaluru, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, “We feel that with this understanding & unity, we will take it forward and the results will come out – as Karnataka gave us a mandate, the entire country will give us a mandate in 2024.”
While addressing a press conference, he added, “This is not the meeting of an individual political party, it is shaping this country for the future of 140 crore people who are suffering on various issues.”
Ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said that the parties were united by a common purpose– “to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions.”
Addressing a press conference, he added, “These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP government. They wanted to silence the Opposition’s voice. They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example.” (ANI)
Reacting to the reports of a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting on July 18, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “After the Patna Opposition meeting, the PM was suddenly reminded of NDA… now there are attempts to breathe new life into the NDA.”
#WATCH | On Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh says, "PM and BJP are baffled. After the Patna meeting (of Opposition), the PM suddenly thought of NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into NDA. Suddenly,… pic.twitter.com/uHmFv8oPqr
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav will travel to Bengaluru on Monday for attending the second meeting of the Opposition parties.
Top leaders of 24 Opposition parties are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
VIDEO | Hoardings of opposition leaders put up along the streets of Bengaluru ahead of the second mega opposition meeting, scheduled to be held later today.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 17, 2023
Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session, where they are likely to… pic.twitter.com/jXIgCRk8EX
“I spoke to (Sharad) Pawar today. He said he will be present tomorrow since the Assembly session is beginning today. There is no problem,” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on the reports of NCP leader Sharad Pawar skipping the Bengaluru opposition meeting. (PTI)
On joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, JD(S) leader and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy said, “Opposition never considered JD(S) a part of them. So, there is no question of JD(S) being a party of any Mahagathbandhan.”
On getting any invitation from NDA, he said, “NDA has not invited our partytor any meeting.” (ANI)
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo, Sharad Pawar, will attend the meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru. He will, however, skip the dinner party on Monday and head directly to Bengaluru for the full day of talks among leaders of 24 opposition parties on Tuesday,
बेंगळुरू येथे होणाऱ्या विरोधी पक्षांच्या बैठकीला @NCPspeaks चे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @PawarSpeaks साहेब व कार्यकारी अध्यक्षा @supriya_sule हे मंगळवार दिनांक 18 जुलै रोजी सहभागी होणार आहेत.
— महेश तपासे Maehesh Tapasey (@maheshtapase) July 17, 2023
Welcoming the Opposition parties and leaders who have arrived in Bengaluru to attend the two-day conclave, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “I heartily welcome the leaders of the prominent opposition parties in the country who have come together to fight against authoritarianism, communalism, and corruption.
May the seeds sown in this peaceful garden of harmony bear the fruit to restore secular, socialist, and democratic values as enshrined in our Constitution,” he wrote on Twitter.
I heartily welcome the leaders of the prominent opposition parties in the country who have come together to fight against authoritarianism, communalism, and corruption.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 17, 2023
May the seeds sown in this peaceful garden of harmony bear the fruit to restore secular, socialist, and…
Ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said that the parties were united by a common purpose– “to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions.” Addressing a press conference, he added, “These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP government. They wanted to silence the Opposition’s voice. They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example.”