Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday said Chief Minister MK Stalin will attend the second Opposition unity meeting in Bengaluru on July 17-18. Earlier, it was speculated that CM Stalin may not attend the event in Bengaluru due to the Mekedatu row with Karnataka.
Putting an end to the rumours, Udhayanidhi told ANI, "It is happening on July 17. Our CM is going to attend. Definitely, it will be a very positive meeting. Our CM is going to participate."
Along with DMK, eight other parties have extended support to the meeting organised by the Congress. The meeting is part of the efforts of Opposition parties to put up a united fight against BJP ahead of Lok Sabha Polls 2024.
Sources said, "After last month's mega Opposition meet in Bihar's Patna, top leaders of as many as 24 political parties will be attending the second meeting which is going to take place in Karnataka's Bengaluru."
The new political parties who will be joining the meet include Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress (Joseph) and Kerala Congress (Mani).
In 2014, MDMK and KDMK were allies of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
It is expected that Sonia Gandhi will also attend the meeting.
Earlier, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and TN CM Stalin attended the meet held in Patna on June 23. During the meeting, the Opposition leaders decided to unitedly fight the BJP.
The first Opposition meet was convened by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Patna. Over 15 parties took part in the first meeting.
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