Opposition Leaders to Convene in New Delhi for INDIA Bloc Meeting; Mamata Banerjee to Skip
New Delhi, May 28, 2024: The key figures of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc are slated to assemble in New Delhi on June 1 to review their performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections and chart out future strategies. Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the Indian National Congress and a prominent figure within the opposition, will chair the meeting, coinciding with the final phase of polling on June 1. However, Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has conveyed her inability to participate due to the ongoing voting process for nine seats in West Bengal on the same day.
Explaining her absence, Mamata Banerjee remarked, “The INDIA team has scheduled a meeting for June 1. I have informed them of my inability to join as we have elections on 9 seats in West Bengal on the same day. With elections in Punjab, Bihar, and UP also on June 1, and with the looming cyclone, my immediate focus is on managing these priorities.”
Just days ago, Mamata had pledged “outside support” from her party to the Opposition alliance in the event of its formation of a government at the Centre. “We (TMC) will extend support to the INDIA bloc from outside to facilitate the formation of a government at the Centre. Our support aims to ensure the well-being of our citizens in West Bengal and safeguard the interests of those participating in the 100 days’ job scheme,” she stated.
Clarifying her stance on being part of the INDIA alliance, Mamata emphasized, “Some have misconstrued my statement from yesterday. I am unequivocally part of the INDIA alliance. It was my initiative, and we remain united at the national level, reaffirming our commitment to collective action.”
The voting schedule for June 1 includes nine seats in West Bengal, including Kolkata Dakshin and Kolkata Uttar. Other constituencies in the state encompass Jadavpur, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jayanagar, Mathurapur, and Diamond Harbour.
The agenda for the meeting will encompass discussions on the opposition’s forward strategy leading up to the announcement of election results on June 4 and a comprehensive assessment of their performance across the seven phases of elections. With a coalition of 28 parties, the opposition alliance expresses confidence in its capacity to thwart the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from securing another term and aims to establish its government.
Previous gatherings of the INDIA bloc have been held in diverse locales such as Patna, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, where joint resolutions were adopted to contest the Lok Sabha elections collectively. While the TMC does not have a formal seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress or any other party in West Bengal, it has thrown its support behind Laliteshpati Tripathi, the Samajwadi Party’s candidate in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi. Conversely, the ruling alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains steadfast in its confidence to secure a third consecutive term in office.
