Explained: What Happened In Last Oppn Meet In Patna And What To Expect In Bengaluru

Opposition Meeting: Here a short recap of what happened in the Patna Opposition meet and what to expect from the Bengaluru session, where leaders of around 26 parties will attend.

The ruling BJP-led NDA and Opposition parties are set to hold crucial meetings this week and showcase their strength as political activity in both the camps gathers steam with just eight months to go for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

Leaders of around 26 Opposition parties will huddle for the second time in less than a month in Bengaluru to finalise their plan and agenda to take on the Modi juggernaut in the general elections. 

This time, the Opposition meeting has been convened by the Congress in a state (Karnataka) which they recently wrested from the BJP by a huge margin -- the optics is to send out a message that the party has a "unique position" in the ranks of the opposition parties. 

This time around, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi will participate as well.

The last Opposition meeting, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on June 23, was held in Patna and was attended by 15 parties.

Here a short recap of what happened in the Patna Opposition meet and what to expect from the Bengaluru session.

What Happened In The Last Opposition Meeting In Patna? 

In the June 23 meeting, the top leaders of 15 Opposition parties held deliberations lasting over four hours and announced that they would fight the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together.

In a joint statement, the Opposition parties said they would fight the polls on a common agenda and state-wise strategy.

However, the meeting saw a rift between AAP and Congress, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal insisting Congress to clarify its stand on the Centre's ordinance that reversed the effect of Supreme Court verdict that gave the Delhi government power over administrative services.

The issue has since been ironed out, with Congress, after weeks of dithering, came out in support of the AAP against the contentious ordinance.

READ | 26 Parties Attending, Game Changer For Indian Political Scenario: Congress Ahead Of Oppn Meet

How Many Parties Are Attending The Bengaluru Opposition Meeting?

Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties are expected to attend the two-day meeting in Bengaluru. On the other hand, the BJP-led NDA meeting in New Delhi on July 18 is expected to see the participation of nearly 30 parties.

For the Opposition meet, apart the 15 parties that attended the Patna session, invitation has been extended to sevaral smaller regional parties.

According to news agency ANI, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani) are among the new political parties that will be joining the meeting.

Together, these parties have around 150 Lok Sabha members. Interestingly, KDMK and MDMK were previously with the BJP during the 2014 general elections. 

What To Expect From The Opposition Meet In Bengaluru?

The Opposition meet comes weeks after Ajit Pawar formulated a split in the NCP by joining the Maharashtra government as deputy Chief Minister.

The parties are expected to decide on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP.

Seat sharing will be another thorny issue in the meeting and a proposal of putting up common opposition candidates in maximum Lok Sabha seats will also be deliberated.

It also remains to be seen how TMC, Left and the Congress navigate the issue following the Mamata Banerjee-led party's thumping win in the violence-marred Bengal panchayat polls.

Trinamool has hinted that it will go alone in West Bengal in 2024, with Mamata saying there was no question of backing the Congress because of its understanding with the CPI(M) in the state.

There is a proposal to set up a sub-committee for drafting a common minimum programme and communication points for the Opposition alliance, PTI reported.

The panel will be also asked to chart the roadmap for the joint programme of parties, including rallies, public meetings and agitations.

The opposition leaders also plan to suggest a name for the alliance and its convenor.

"Today, there will be a detailed discussion on what will be our ideological platform, issues, 2024 agenda, and what will be our joint action...name of opposition will also be decided in the meeting only," ANI quoted Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain as saying.