Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is all set to be appointed as the convenor of the 11-member coordination team for the newly formed alliance of 26 opposition parties, named 'INDIA', sources informed ABP Live. The official announcement regarding Nitish Kumar's appointment is expected to be made during the next opposition meeting in Mumbai.
The decision to name Nitish Kumar as the convenor comes amidst media reports of his apparent displeasure over the coalition's name, 'INDIA,' which stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. His absence from the Opposition press conference further fueled speculations about his stance.
The formation of the 'INDIA' coalition marks a significant move by 26 opposition parties, as they gear up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and aim to present a united front against the ruling NDA. During the press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said a committee comprising 11 members for coordination purposes is to be formed and a convenor will be announced during the subsequent meeting in Mumbai. Kharge also said a common secretariat will also be set up for campaign management in Delhi and specific committees will be formed for separate issues.
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Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge said PM Modi is now trying to bring together parties that had splintered which shows that "he is afraid of opposition parties".
"There are some differences between us but we have put that behind... We are together in the interest of the country," Kharge said. "We'll fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly and succeed," he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, expressing confidence in the coalition's success, asserted that the upcoming battle would be "between INDIA and Prime Minister Narendra Modi."