Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai, August 29: The opposition INDIA alliance and the ruling NDA are engaged in a direct battle as the Lok Sabha elections, which are set for early next year, approach. Both coalitions will hold parallel high-level meetings in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on September 1.
There will be a joint meeting of the INDIA alliance participants on September 1 in Mumbai. The discussion will go over seat-sharing in the states and alliance strategy for the Lok Sabha elections. There may also be a new INDIA alliance logo unveiled.
The NDA alliance in Maharashtra is also slated to meet on the same day in Mumbai with a new partner, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction. The Ajit Pawar faction’s NCP MP Sunil Tatkare stated, “In this meeting, all our state government alliance partners BJP, ShivSena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) will participate.”
When questioned about the timing of the meeting, which also happens to be the day of the INDIA alliance meeting, Sunil Tatkare responded, “Our meeting was planned long back before the last state assembly Monsoon session by our coordination committee, so it’s no point to say that we are doing this as opposition parties are also having meeting on the same day.”
Approximately 26 to 27 opposition alliance parties would attend the INDIA conference, according to senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan.
“An informal gathering will be held on the evening of August 31 in Mumbai and a formal meeting on September 1. So far, two meetings have been organized. So in this third meeting, the next agenda will be discussed. We are deciding to make a common logo and it may get unveiled on August 31,” Ashok Chavan said.
Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, had hinted at the alliance’s potential extension when speaking to reporters on Sunday. He said that a few more regional parties were anticipated to join the alliance.
“We will discuss the INDIA alliance’s strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Mumbai. Seat sharing and other issues are also on our agenda for the meeting. A few more political parties will join our coalition. I want to unite the maximum number of parties before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. I am working in that direction” said Nitish Kumar.
The INDIA bloc’s Prime Minister candidate will be chosen when the coalition wins the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Congress Leader PL Punia said.
“INDIA alliance has decided that the Prime Minister will be decided after coming to power. The elected MPs will choose the PM,’ the Congress leader said.
A coalition of 26 opposition parties, including the Congress, is known as INDIA or the “Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.” In order to defeat the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and stop it from winning a third consecutive term in power at the central level in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the parties have come together.
The joint opposition met for the first time on June 23 in Patna and for the second time on July 17 and 18 in Bengaluru. The third gathering is scheduled for August 31–September 1 in Mumbai.
