I.N.D.I.A. Bloc Agrees On Making Congress Chief Kharge Its Chairperson: Report

Congress Chief Kharge has been appointed as the chairperson of opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

Source : PTI

The I.N.D.I.A. bloc has reached a consensus on the name of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for appointment as the chairperson of the opposition bloc on Saturday, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.

A meeting of the I.N.D.I.A bloc was held virtually today. The meeting was attended by Tamil Nadu CM & DMK leader MK Stalin, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal among varius other top leaders of parties of the opposition bloc to review seat sharing, participation in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and other issues, news agency ANI reported.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge appointed chairperson of opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A: Sources

— Press Trust of I.N.D.I.A (@PTI_News) January 13, 2024

This was the second effort to hold a virtual meeting, after the first attempt failed a few days ago. However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray skipped the virtual meeting. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was also seen as a contender for the top post, declined to lead I.N.D.I.A bloc, a source told ABP News. JDU leader Sanjay Kumar Jha stated on Saturday that Nitish Kumar wanted the convenor to be from the Congress Party.

Under the umbrella of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), 28 opposition parties have banded up to take on the BJP and defeat it in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

On Friday, Aam Aadmi Party and Congress officials had seat-sharing negotiations and agreed to meet again, with the Congress declaring the two parties have "very good chemistry."

However, several issues remain unresolved inside the alliance, including the appointment of a convenor. Seat-sharing discussions with members of the opposition bloc have also been fruitless thus far owing to seat claims and counter-claims.

Meanwhile, according to people familiar with the situation, the Trinamool Congress, which has offered the Congress two Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in exchange for an alliance, has refused further negotiations with the latter's national alliance committee, but has left the door open for talks between the two parties' top leaders, HT reported.