INDIA bloc holds key meeting: Rahul, Mamata, Akhilesh among top leaders present; DMK stays away

Opposition leaders at INDIA bloc meet

NEW DELHI: Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are meeting at the Constitution Club in the national capital — their first formal gathering since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.The meeting is being held against the backdrop of recent assembly polls in four states and the Union territory of Puducherry.

While non-BJP parties secured victories in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the results were seen as a setback for the opposition, with the BJP winning West Bengal and Assam and retaining power in Puducherry alongside its ally, the All India NR Congress.

The meeting has been convened at the request of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC), which was defeated in West Bengal after 15 years in power and is now facing internal dissent.The TMC has had an on-off relationship with the INDIA bloc and contested the Lok Sabha polls in the state on its own.The leaders will address a joint press conference at 2:30 pm.Here are some key takeaways:Opening remarks and agendaCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed the leaders and outlined the agenda in his opening remarks. The discussion includes the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleged misuse of investigative agencies by the BJP-led Centre, perceived discrimination against non-BJP state governments, inflation, privatisation, unemployment, paper leaks, and what the opposition described as the Centre’s “weak” foreign policy, among other issues.

Who are attendingA total of 23 parties are participating in the INDIA bloc huddle. Opposition leaders present include Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge; TMC chief Mamata Banerjee; Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav; RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav; National Conference leader Omar Abdullah; and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, along with leaders from Left parties.Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is in attendance virtually.Who are missingThe Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had already announced that it will boycott the meeting, citing the Congress’ “betrayal.” The decision comes after the Tamil Nadu elections, in which the DMK lost power after a single term, following which the Congress aligned with newcomer Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government in the state.The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also absent.Anti-Rahul postersPosters targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi appeared at multiple roundabouts in New Delhi ahead of the meeting.

The posters highlighted past remarks made by opposition leaders against the Congress MP.They featured statements attributed to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, TMC's Mamata Banerjee, DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal criticising Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.Tension between Congress and LeftCPM's John Brittas expressed serious concerns over the approach and conduct of the Congress, alleging that top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi, had accused the Left party of having an "understanding" with the BJP during the Kerala assembly elections."We have serious reservations concerning the approach, attitude and conduct of the Congress party. Now it's been three years since the inception of the INDIA bloc. We all came together to fight the BJP. But there is a murky situation that has happened in Kerala wherein people like Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi accused us of having some sort of an alliance with the BJP," Brittas told ANI.He questioned, "If that is the charge and approach of the Congress, then what is the whole purpose of us sitting together?" Brittas added that the CPI(M) does not seek validation from Congress regarding its commitment to opposing the BJP."There were also tensions between the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) over seat-sharing for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The dispute has since been resolved.