Mamata, Uddhav Skip I.N.D.I.A Bloc Meeting On Convenor, Seat Sharing. Rahul, Pawar, Stalin Take Part

NCP chief Sharad Pawar attends the meeting of INDIA bloc leaders via video conferencing

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 INDIA bloc on Saturday attended the meeting to review seat sharing, participation in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and other issues, news agency ANI reported. However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray skipped the virtual meeting. 

On West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee skipping INDIA bloc's virtual meet, BJP leader Tarun Chugh stated: "The leaders of 'Ghamandiya' alliance don't want to be (in alliance) with each other, they want to get rid of each other and become the PM," PTI reported. 

This is the second effort to hold a virtual meeting, after the first attempt failed a few days ago. 

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.

Earlier 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.

According to a member of the Congress' alliance panel, the Congress already has both of the seats offered by the TMC, making it impossible for the party to accept the pact. According to the article, the TMC has also claimed a seat in Meghalaya, saying that it earned 13.8% of the vote in the recent assembly elections, slightly higher than the Congress.

To discuss seats, the national alliance committee, chaired by Congress veteran Mukul Wasnik, has already met with representatives from the Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (Uddhav), Nationalist Congress Party, and Samajwadi Party.