Nearly a month after they decided to unitedly fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Opposition alliance of 26 parties got a new name -- INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). Besides, the bloc also decided to form an 11-member committee for coordination and hold the next meeting in Mumbai -- the epicentre where two Opposition parties (NCP, Shiv Sena) recently suffered a split.
However, the meeting was not a bed of roses as several differences of opinion emerged during deliberations -- from naming INDIA to selecting a convenor for the alliance.
'D' For Democratic Or Developmental?
Interestingly, during the Opposition meeting on Tuesday, it was floated in news circles that the alliance will be called "Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance". The word "democratic" was replaced with "developmental" at the last minute.
In fact, Sharad Pawar had tweeted "Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance" before editing the post. On the other hand, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had tweeted the alliance name to be "Inclusive National Democratic India For All".
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury objected to the word "democratic", saying that it sounded too similar to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by BJP, PTI reported quoting sources.
Who Proposed The Name 'INDIA'?
The next confusion was on who proposed the name INDIA. While Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate claimed that the idea came from Rahul Gandhi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) party chief Thol Thirumavalavan told ANI that Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee proposed the name first.
In a video clip tweeted by PTI, Shrinate said, "It is a collective effort. I don't think we are taking any credit for this but yes, the idea came from Rahul Gandhi, like he defended the idea, like he argued for this, what is the fight about, what is this fight between."
However, Thirumavalava said Mamata gave the idea of the name INDIA, ANI reported.
India's Main Front, Indian People's Front, Indian Progressive Front, Indian Popular Front and We For India were other names proposed during the meeting, PTI reported quoting sources.
A report in The Indian Express said the name INDIA was suggested first by Rahul Gandhi but he wanted it to get cleared with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee first. Mamata reportedly agreed to the name, only suggesting that "N" stand for "new" instead of "national".
While Congress and TMC may be rivals in Bengal, their bonhomie was on full display in Bengaluru. On Monday, Mamata shared some light moments with Sonia Gandhi during the dinner meeting. She also called Rahul Gandhi as "our favourite" during the joint Opposition press conference.
The confusion over who named the alliance came in for sharp attack from the BJP, with the party's IT Cell head Amit Malviya calling the opposition camp a "circus".
"Every party is planting news with the media on how their leader had a role in the new name. RJD upstaged the formal announcement and tweeted, to find later that the name had been changed. There is also a rush to take credit for who bought AAP and Congress together, Nitish or Mamata? If this is the extent of credit seeking, imagine the rent seeking, if they ever came to power. This alliance is a joke!" Malviya tweeted.
Disquiet Over Naming Of Convenor Of Bloc?
There were murmurs of disquiet in the Opposition alliance after Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav skipped the joint press conference.
PTI reported that Kumar and Lalu Prasad wanted that a convenor be named at the meeting itself and were miffed over it.
Kharge announced to the media that the convenor would be selected at the next Opposition meet in Mumbai.
However, sources told PTI that Kumar and Lalu were travelling in a small plane and had to reach Patna before night and dismissed reports of them being upset.
READ | Common Secretariat In Delhi, 11-Member Coordination Panel: Key Takeaways From Oppn Meet
'Jeetega Bharat' Tagline To Counter PM Modi's 'Bharat' Pitch
On Tuesday, after the mega NDA meeting of 38 parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the Opposition bloc, saying alliances "built on negativity has never won".
Without naming the "INDIA" alliance, PM Modi countered it by speaking of the idea of Bharat, the poor and the backward classes whom the NDA represents.
Hours later, reports came that the opposition parties finalised "Jeetega Bharat (India will win)" as the tagline of their campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
PTI, quoting sources, said several leaders wanted a Hindi tagline, which would be replicated in several regional languages.
Several leaders felt that the word "Bharat" should feature in the name of the alliance, the sources told PTI.