19-Party Opposition Meet: Sonia Gandhi Calls For United Front To Fight 'Larger Political Battle'

During the 19-party meet, Congress interim President asked the Opposition leaders to "rise above compulsions" and plan systematically for 2024 Lok Sabha Polls to take on the BJP. 

Opposition meeting called by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi | Image Courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: In what looked like a consolidated show of power by the opposition, 19 political parties joined in the video conferencing meet called by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Friday evening. As the agenda of the meeting was not clear, reports suggest that Sonia Gandhi called for the Opposition's unity.

During the 19-party meet, Congress interim President asked the Opposition leaders to "rise above compulsions" and plan systematically for 2024 Lok Sabha Polls to take on the BJP. 

"Confident of opposition unity in Parliament, but the larger political battle has to be fought outside it," Sonia Gandhi said during the 19-party meet as reported by PTI.

"Parliament's Monsoon Session was a complete washout due to govt's unwillingness to discuss Pegasus snooping issue," Sonia Gandhi said during the video conference.

The monsoon session ended two days before its schedule as Opposition parties constantly attacked the Narendra Modi government on various issues throughout the session.

ANI reports that NCP leader Sharad Pawar alleged that the Home Minister-led Ministry of Cooperation is an interference mechanism with the state. 

"Sharad Pawar ji brought to attention how the Ministry of Cooperation, led by Home Minister, is interference in Constitutional rights-responsibilities of state governments," Sonia Gandhi informed as reported by ANI.

"Mamata ji & Uddhav ji emphasized discrimination against non-BJP ruled states in vaccine supply, as have other Chief Ministers," Sonia Gandhi added.

"The present government has failed to address all these issues. Those who believe in democracy and secularism, those who want to work together to save the democratic principles of our country should come together, that is my call," NCP chief Sharad Pawar during the 19-party meeting, as reported by ANI.

Sharad Pawar ji brought to attention how Ministry of Cooperation, led by HM, is interference in Constitutional rights-responsibilities of state govts. Mamata ji & Uddhav ji emphasized discrimination against non-BJP ruled states in vaccine supply, as have other CMs: Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/rXPQu35sIT

— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2021

Who All Were Present

Besides Congress, TMC, NCP, DMK, Shiv Sena, JMM, CPI, CPI(M), National Conference, RJD, AIUDF, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Loktantrik Janta Dal, JD (S), RLD, RSP, Kerala Congress (M), PDP and IUML were all part of the meeting.

DMK's MK Stalin, TMC's Mamata Banerjee, JMM's Hemant Soren, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray, NCP's Sharad Pawar, Loktantrik Janata Dal's Sharad Yadav, CPI (M)'s Sitaram Yechury, and NC's Farooq Abdullah could be seen present in the video conference. No representation from SP was seen in the meeting.

Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were also participating in the Opposition leaders' meeting.