Mega Show Of Strength By NDA, United Opposition Ahead Of Assembly Polls: The Week Ahead

Both the united Opposition and the NDA partners will meet their respective allies in The Week Ahead to prepare for the polls in the five states later this year and the Lok Sabha elections next year.

While the Opposition parties try to work out their differences and come up with a common strategy for the Lok Sabha polls next year, the BJP is also working out its plan for the elections.

The week ahead is set for a mega show of strength with the Opposition and the ruling National Democratic Alliance convening meetings on the same day. While the Opposition is slowly getting roadblocks out of its way, the NDA is inducting new members under its fold. Both groups will plan for the upcoming assembly polls in five states and the Lok Sabha elections in 2023.

Stay with ABP Live as we try to cut the clutter around the latest news from the political arena and help you understand what is likely to happen in The Week Ahead. Here are the biggest political developments expected to play out this week.

United Opposition Second Meeting 

The united Opposition has got a significant hurdle out of its way, with the Congress backing the Aam Aadmi Party in opposing the Delhi services ordinance. With the move, the Congress has finally paved the way for the AAP's full participation in the Opposition platform. 

The Congress had been on the fence over the issue so far. The party's general secretary Ajay Maken had gone as far as to say that the Congress wouldn't support Delhi CM Arvind in his quest for control over the transfers and postings of administrative officials — a "unique privilege" denied to previous Chief Ministers. What didn't help matters was the arrest of its senior Punjab leader OP Soni in a corruption case by the Bhagwant Mann government.

However, it seems that the Congress has been convinced by other Opposition parties to back the AAP for the sake of the united Opposition against the BJP in 2024. The platform's two-day meeting is now scheduled on July 18, with an informal dinner preceding the formal meeting. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also expected to attend the dinner. As many as 26 Opposition parties are likely to meet in Bengaluru.

What remains to be seen is whether the Congress and the AAP stop attacking each other, or at least tone down the attacks, over issues like corruption in the run up to the assembly elections in various states.

NDA Meet For 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

While the Opposition parties try to work out their differences and come up with a common strategy for the Lok Sabha polls next year, the BJP is also working out its plan for the elections. BJP president JP Nadda recently sent invitation letters to allies to attend a meeting in Delhi.

Among the parties that will attend the meeting are former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustan Awam Morcha and Chirag Paswan's LJP. Just before the meeting, Om Prakash Rajbhar's Suheldev Bharatiya Jana Samaj Party also formally joined the NDA. The NDA meeting on a day the united Opposition is scheduled to meet is being seen as a show of strength.

In addition to planning for the general election next year, the NDA meeting is also likely to focus on the upcoming five assembly polls. Of the five states going to polls later this year, BJP is in power only in Madhya Pradesh.

Bengal Panchayat Poll Results

After a week of counting, the West Bengal State Election Commission is likely to declare the much-awaited panchayat poll results tally on Monday. While the winner is already known, the final compilation of the seats would give a clear picture of the candidates' position.

The panchayat election in Bengal was marked by widespread violence and deaths since the announcement of the polling date. So far, more than 40 poll-related deaths have been recorded. Even the initial days of vote counting were marred by violence, ballot paper destruction, clashes, and murder. 

While the BJP and the Congress-Left alliance blamed the Trinamool Congress for the violence, the ruling party accused the Opposition of orchestrating the unrest. However, despite their differences, TMC, Congress, and CPM seem to be working to cement an alliance at the national level.

Stay tuned to ABP Live as we track the updates on these stories and more.

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