26 Parties Attending, Game Changer For Indian Political Scenario: Congress Ahead Of Oppn Meet — Top Points

The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday and another formal meeting on Tuesday.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, DMK leader TR Baalu, CPI leader D. Raja and others during the all-party opposition meeting, ahead of the vice-presidential elections, in New Delhi, Sunday, July 17, 2022 (FILE PIC)

Source : PTI

At least 26 ‘like-minded’ political parties are convening a significant two-day event starting Monday to decide their strategy to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The meeting comes less than a month after the first such high-profile meeting, that took place in Patna on June 23. Ahead of the second round of Opposition meeting on Monday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the first round of meeting in Patna had baffled Prime Minister Modi and the BJP as a result of the meeting attempts were being made to breathe life into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and several meetings were called for its revival. "PM and BJP are baffled. After the Patna meeting (of Opposition), the PM suddenly thought of NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into NDA. Suddenly, it was reported that the NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. This is a result of the meeting in Patna...," he said.

When asked about topics for the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru and if UPA will get a new name, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, "We will take all decisions. I can't tell you now what are the issues that are going to be discussed. Congress is not deciding this alone. All the opposition parties will sit together and decide unitedly. We are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy, to assure constitutional rights and independence of our institutions. These are under attack under BJP Govt, they want to silence the opposition by misusing agencies like CBI, ED... The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi is one of the examples of it. Development of Maharashtra also is an example of that."

Top Developments So Far

• Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge hit out at the Centre over its alleged 'Dictorial Attitude' with regard to the Delhi Ordinance issue
• A day after the Congress extended its support to the Aam Aadmi Party against the Centre's Ordinance in Delhi, AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that the saffron party is having sleepless nights after seeing the Opposition's unity
• Uddhav Thackeray Faction MP Sanjay Raut said that Lok Sabha seat sharing will be discussed in this meeting
• NCP chief Sharad Pawar skipped the first day of the Opposition meeting but will join other leaders on the second day viz. on Tuesday
• Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "PM and BJP are baffled. After the Patna meeting (of Opposition), the PM suddenly thought of NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into NDA."
• Karnataka minister and Congress leader Eshwar Khandre says, "...The manner in which BJP was wiped out of Karnataka, in the upcoming Lok Sabha election they will be similarly wiped out of the country. Mahagathbandhan will win and Rahul Gandhi will become the Prime Minister."
• Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "The message of this meet is to the people that they don't need to worry and we're uniting to raise their issues...people are fed up after 9 years...this is for the protection of the constitution"
• Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said, "Today, there will be a detailed discussion on what will be our ideological platform, issues, 2024 agenda, and what will be our joint action...name of opposition will also be decided in the meeting only"
• JD(S) denies joining any side, said the Opposition never considered them a part of theirs and NDA hasn't invited them for a meeting so far.