Sonia Gandhi will lead the opposition, will this Grand Alliance give a tough fight to the BJP in 2024?
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To deliberate on the structure of the front that would challenge the BJP next year, top leaders from 26 opposition parties have assembled in Bengaluru. The official discussions are scheduled for today from 11 am to 4 pm.
Here are the top 10 details on this significant story:
The daylong gathering of the leaders in Bengaluru culminated with a dinner meeting to finalise the schedule for Tuesday’s private discussions. According to insiders, Sonia Gandhi, who served as the UPA’s chairman, may be chosen as the Front’s president and Nitish Kumar as its convenor.
Along with Mrs. Gandhi, other participants in the two-day meeting include Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Chief Ministers MK Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren, Mamata Banerjee, and RJD leader Lalu Prasad. Sharad Pawar will attend the conference tomorrow after his party split earlier this month as a result of his nephew Ajit Pawar’s uprising.
All parties have reportedly been requested to submit names for the front, which must contain the word “India,” according to sources. “United we stand” will be the slogan. Additionally, ideas for the Common Minimum Programme are being solicited. Additionally, it was suggested that the topic of states be maintained distinct.
In order to promote an agenda of social justice, inclusive growth, and national welfare, like-minded opposition parties must closely cooperate. “United We Stand, for this INDIA,” tweeted Mallikarjun Kharge. “We want to free the people of India from the authoritarian and anti-people politics of hate, division, economic injustice, and loot.
Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi shared a table at the dinner meeting this evening at the Taj West End Hotel. The start of the encounter was delayed by a one-on-one talk they had earlier that lasted about 20 minutes, according to insiders.
Despite the fact that the two leaders are known to get along well, recently, ties between the Congress and Ms. Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress have deteriorated. However, both parties have moved past it and now believe that the best way to preserve democracy and federalism is to defeat the BJP the following year.
The Congress is hosting the gathering at a location that was picked with care. The recent Karnataka assembly election victory for the Congress party has not only energised the opposition but also put the party in a strong position.
However, the Congress has maintained a low profile while under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge, repeating its desire to hear the opinions of other leaders. Its desire to work as a team was also demonstrated by its support of Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party in opposition to the Central Ordinance in parliament.
Senior Congressman Pawan Khera responded that “all parties having the will and guts to fight the BJP are welcome” when asked if HD Kumaraswamy’s Janata Dal Secular will attend. “This opposition is going to increase, from 16 in Patna to 26 in Bengaluru… There will be a lot more meetings. We will talk about the issues right away, and then we’ll talk about the leaders,” he added.
The opposition gathering takes place simultaneously with a BJP show of force in Delhi, where all the NDA members will also convene tomorrow. Mr. Khera claimed that the BJP is convening the meeting because they are experiencing “jitters”.