'Delhi, Punjab Seat-Sharing Problems...': Kharge Hints At Truce With AAP At I.N.D.I.A Meet
Several Opposition alliance leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Sonia Gandhi, Nitish Kumar, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, MK Stalin, among others attended the INDIA bloc's meeting.
The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) held its fourth meeting at the Ashoka Hotel in the heart of the national capital on Tuesday. The meeting, which was originally set for December 6, was postponed due to the absence of major leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar, and Akhilesh Yadav. Previous meetings were conducted on June 23rd in Patna, July 17th and 18th in Bengaluru, and August 31st and 1st in Mumbai.
After the conclusion of the INDIA Alliance meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said: "28 parties participated in our fourth meeting and kept their thoughts before the committee of the alliance. It is a matter of happiness that a unanimous decision was taken on how the alliance should go forward."
#WATCH | After the conclusion of the INDIA Alliance meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge says "Leaders of 28 political parties of the INDIA Alliance were present here in the fourth meeting held here today..." pic.twitter.com/SwdQpUtHzJ
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
Seat sharing will be done at state level, if there is any issue it will be taken up at central level, said Congress chief Kharge after INDIA meet. "Whether it's Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Bihar, UP, Delhi or Punjab, issues on seat-sharing will be resolved," he added.
On suspension of oppositions MPs from Lok Sabha, Kharge stated: "We have passed a resolution that suspension is undemocratic. We will all have to fight to save democracy and all of us are ready to do that. We raised the issue of security breach in the Parliament. We have been saying for a long time that Union HM Amit Shah or PM Modi should come to the Parliament and speak in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha about the issue of Parliament security breach, but they are refusing to do so."
Kharge stated that in the meeting it has been decided to hold a nationwide protest against the suspension of MPs on December 22.
"This is the first time 151 members of the parliament have been suspended in the country. We will fight against this, this is wrong. We have united to fight against this," he further stated.
#WATCH | After the conclusion of the INDIA Alliance meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge says "We have passed a resolution that suspension is undemocratic. We will all have to fight to save democracy and all of us are ready to do that. We raised the issue of security… pic.twitter.com/nuDVQUe2Lg
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
"We have decided to hold 8-10 meetings across the country. If alliance partners don't come together on one stage, then people will not know about it. It's a good thing that the meeting lasted for 2-3 hours," Kharge stated.
VIDEO | "We have decided to hold 8-10 meetings across the country. If alliance partners don't come together on one stage, then people will not know about it. It's a good thing that the meeting lasted for 2-3 hours," says Congress president @kharge on INDIA bloc meeting. pic.twitter.com/1m6YAoWycs
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
When asked if he could be INDIA bloc's PM face, Kharge stated: "First we have to win and get a majority, then MPs will decide democratically."
VIDEO | "Our priority is to win first. Who becomes the PM can be discussed later. If MPs are not there, what is the use of talking about the PM? We should first try to fight unitedly and bring majority," says @kharge in response to media queries on reports suggesting that West… pic.twitter.com/TRrrwF3KMr
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
Several Opposition alliance leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Sonia Gandhi, Nitish Kumar, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, MK Stalin, among others attended the INDIA bloc's meeting.
After the meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that no convenor has been selected yet. "The meeting was good. The campaigning, seat sharing and everything will begin soon," he stated.
After the INDIA Alliance meeting, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said: "All parties are ready to hit the ground after the distribution of tickets very soon."
He further stated: "I have said from the first day that the strategy of INDIA Alliance will be PDA. We will defeat BJP. UP mein 80 harao aur loktantra bachao."
#WATCH | After the INDIA Alliance meeting, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "...All parties are ready to hit the ground after the distribution of tickets very soon."
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
He also says, "I have said from the first day that the strategy of INDIA Alliance will be PDA. We will defeat… pic.twitter.com/nT5EJk1jHW
When asked about West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's suggestion at the INDIA Alliance meeting, MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) MP Vaiko said: "There was no opposition to that suggestion - Mallikarjun Kharge for PM face."
#WATCH | When asked about West Bengal CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee's suggestion at the INDIA Alliance meeting, MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) MP Vaiko says, "There was no opposition to that suggestion - Mallikarjun Kharge for PM face." pic.twitter.com/yf6FmHdoyh
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
On INDIA alliance meeting today, JMM MP Mahua Maji said: "The main discussion was regarding seat sharing. Some leaders wanted to have the seat sharing before 1st January. Discussions regarding the face of the Prime Minister were also done. No final decision was taken. Everyone said that PM's face will be decided after winning the elections."
#WATCH | On INDIA alliance meeting today, JMM MP Mahua Maji says, "The main discussion was regarding seat sharing. Some leaders wanted to have the seat sharing before 1st January. Discussions regarding the face of the Prime Minister were also done. No final decision was… pic.twitter.com/PCh5CZhuMD
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
The Opposition's INDIA group lost over half of its Rajya Sabha strength and one-third of its Lok Sabha strength. For interrupting House operations on Tuesday, 49 Lok Sabha MPs were suspended, including NC leader Farooq Abdullah, Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Karti Chidambaram, and NCP Supriya Sule. With this, a total of 141 MPs have been suspended in this Parliament's Winter session, 95 from the Lok Sabha and 46 from the Rajya Sabha.
Before the meeting began, TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee met with Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Secretary General Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav.
Ahead of today's #INDIAAlliance meeting, our Hon'ble Chairperson Smt. @MamataOfficial met @samajwadiparty President @yadavakhilesh and Secretary General @proframgopalya1.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) December 19, 2023
In the face of an unrelenting assault on the very core of our Parliamentary democracy, the significance of… pic.twitter.com/q5uskbhyHT
Banerjee also met Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray ahead of the meeting. Taking to X, TMC stated: "With a collective recognition of the urgency, the leaders deliberated on concrete steps to counter the threats and uphold the sanctity of our democratic institutions."
Today, our Hon'ble Chairperson Smt @MamataOfficial met @ShivSenaUBT_ president @uddhavthackeray, General Secretary @AUThackeray and other notable leaders.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) December 19, 2023
With a collective recognition of the urgency, the leaders deliberated on concrete steps to counter the threats and uphold… pic.twitter.com/pPW5CzrTrD
Earlier, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has proposed that the TMC's Prime Ministerial nominee be chosen after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On the eve of the meeting, AAP national leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Banerjee and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray at his house. According to reports, Kejriwal will attend the alliance gathering before travelling to an unspecified place to begin a 10-day Vipassana meditation training on Tuesday. On the eve of the summit, Arvind Kejriwal met with Mamata Banerjee and Uddhav Thackeray for strategic advice.
The INDIA bloc's electoral theme is "Judega Bharat, Jeetega India" (India will unite, India will win) in order to challenge the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government.
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