Agency (New Delhi):
In a pivotal meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc in New Delhi on December 19, 2023, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal proposed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as the potential Prime Ministerial candidate. This suggestion marked Kharge as a potential “first Dalit prime minister” of India. However, the decision on this proposal was not finalized.
During the meeting attended by leaders of 28 opposition parties, Kharge expressed his dedication to working for the downtrodden. Emphasizing the primary goal of winning the elections, he stated that discussions on the Prime Ministerial candidate should follow electoral success. Kharge’s response highlighted his focus on strengthening the alliance and the need for a democratic decision on the leadership post-victory.
Kharge also commented on the current political climate, critiquing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attitude following recent assembly poll victories. He stressed the importance of unity in the opposition’s efforts to win the upcoming elections.
The meeting saw discussions on various strategies, including a proposal by Mamata Banerjee to appoint Kharge as the convenor of a committee responsible for managing seat sharing among the INDIA bloc parties for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, this proposal, like the one concerning Kharge’s candidacy, remained undecided.
Mamata Banerjee, who had arrived in the national capital the day before the meeting, had previously articulated that any decision on the alliance’s Prime Ministerial face would be made post-election. She emphasized the democratic nature of the alliance, acknowledging the diversity of states, views, and opinions within the bloc. She contrasted this approach with the BJP’s, noting the absence of allies in the NDA.
Banerjee’s comments also touched on the current political environment in India, calling for a focus on the nation’s people and criticizing the existing autocratic tendencies.