New Delhi (Agency): In a key move, India’s opposition parties are joining forces to present a united front against the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, confirmed the news on Tuesday, stating that an 11-member coordination committee would be established and the next meeting would be held in Mumbai.
While specifics such as seat sharing will be a focal point of the next meeting, the objective remains clear: to enhance opposition unity against the BJP.
Kharge made the announcement in the wake of the second meeting of opposition parties, promising that the meeting date and committee members’ names would be declared in Mumbai soon.
In addition to discussing practicalities, the opposition parties revealed their new name: the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A). “Earlier, we were UPA and now all the 26 parties have given a name to the opposition and that is – Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Everybody has agreed upon this, and the resolution for the name was passed unanimously,” Kharge stated.
Drawing attention to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reaction, Kharge suggested that the united opposition was causing concern for the current government. “NDA is holding a meeting with 30 parties. I have not heard about so many parties in India. PM Modi is now afraid of opposition parties. We have gathered here to save democracy and the Constitution,” he added.
The collaboration came to fruition after a two-day meeting in Bengaluru attended by leaders from 26 parties. The first such meeting took place in Patna on June 23, presided over by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
