I.N.D.I.A. bloc meeting: Days after Congress’ defeat in recent assembly elections in three crucial heartland states—Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, the fourth meeting of the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc will be held on December 19 in Delhi, said Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday.
“The 4th meeting of the leaders of INDIA parties will be held on Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 in New Delhi at 3 pm,” said Ramesh in a post on X.
The fourth meeting was scheduled on December 6 but was deferred as several opposition leaders including West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and former Uttar Pradesh CM and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said they would not be able to join.
Agenda of meeting
During the meeting, the parties would chalk out plans on seat sharing, for holding joint election rallies and would evolve a common programme for them.
A senior leader of the Congress said that the parties intend to move forward with the unity theme – “Main Nahin, Hum” (We, Not Me) – as a counter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the meeting. “Main Nahin, Hum” (We, Not Me) is the likely slogan that the opposition parties would work on to counter Modi. Sources add that the opposition alliance of the INDIA bloc is likely to take forward the issues of caste census, legal guarantee to MSP and social security for workers.
The meeting takes place against the backdrop of the Congress’ disappointing performance in the recently concluded assembly elections, facing significant defeats in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, the BJP has asserted that the public has reaffirmed their trust in “Modi’s assurances” and is poised to re-elect his government in 2024.
The current challenge for opposition parties is to formulate an alternative positive agenda to counter the BJP in the upcoming general elections, stated the leader.
The INDIA bloc would highlight 10 years under Manmohan Singh and whether the 10 years under PM Modi have brought any difference to the life of the common man.
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