I.N.D.I.A Bloc Meet Postponed After Top Opposition Leaders Decide To Skip Huddle

The decision came after top Opposition leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav decided to give the meeting of the I.N.D.I.A bloc called by Congress a miss.

The meeting of the I.N.D.I.A bloc scheduled to be held on Wednesday in Delhi to discuss the strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls has been postponed due to the unavailability of top regional leaders like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin.

However, a meeting of the Parliament floor leaders of the Opposition bloc will take place at 10 Rajaji Marg, the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The decision came after top Opposition leaders decided to give the meeting of the I.N.D.I.A bloc called by Kharge a miss amid resentment over the grand old party not accomodating regional parties in the recently held Assembly elections to five states.

After the Congress was routed in the Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, rumblings have started among the I.N.D.I alliance partners that the party stalled activities of the bloc and kept regional parties out of campaign.

So far, the bloc has held three meetings in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Patna. In the Mumbai summit, leaders of around 26 parties had attended and a coordination committee was formed to steer the campaign during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Mamata, Akhilesh, Nitish, Stalin To Skip Oppn Meet

Miffed with Congress after the failure of seat-sharing talks in Madhya Pradesh and alleged indecent remarks by Kamal Nath, Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav has decided to skip the meeting, PTI reported.

Sources told ABP News that the SP supremo was purpotedly hurt by the 'Akhilesh-Vakhilesh' jibe of Kamal Nath after their seat-sharing talks failed. SP had asked Congress for six seats in MP, IANS reported.

After the Congress's poll debacle, Akhilesh blamed the party's arrogance behind the results. Without referring to the Congress, the SP chief said, "Now that the results are out, the ego has also ended. In the coming days, a new way forward will be found."

Meanwhile, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Congress for not indicating her in advance about the meeting schedule. Banerjee said she had prior engagements in North Bengal.

Nitish Kumar cited his unavailability due to health issues while DMK chief MK Stalin decided to give it a miss due to being occupied in coordinating relief efforts in the wake of Cyclone Michaung, which has led to heavy rainfall and waterlogging in several parts of Tamil Nadu.