Opposition Gathers at Mallikarjun Kharge’s Residence for Crucial Post-Poll Strategy Meeting

In a significant development, the INDIA bloc, comprising opposition parties, had to cancel its scheduled mega meeting of top leaders. Instead, they organized a dinner meet of floor leaders at the residence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. The postponement was a result of key leaders, including Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressing their unavailability for the meeting.

During the hour-long gathering, floor leaders from 17 parties discussed strategies to enhance coordination in preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Prominent attendees included Rahul Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Pramod Tiwari, K C Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh from the Congress. Other opposition leaders present were Mahua Majhi of JMM, Vaiko of MDMK, NK Premchandran of RSP, Binoy Viswam of CPI, Lalan Singh of JDU, Ram Gopal Yadav and ST Hasan of Samajwadi Party, Jayant Chaudhary of RLD, Raghav Chadha from AAP, Vandana Chavan of NCP, and Tiruchi Siva of DMK.

Representatives from CPM, RJD, Kerala Congress (M), SP, DMK, NC, and IUML also attended the meeting. However, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena were absent.

The Congress called for this meeting following its defeat to the BJP in three heartland states—Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh—in the recent assembly polls. Despite the loss, opposition leaders stressed that it was not a failure of the INDIA bloc.

The defeat has highlighted the Congress’ reluctance to share seats with the Samajwadi Party in Madhya Pradesh. Several leaders, including Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray of Shiv Sena, Janata Dal (United), Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, and Omar Abdullah’s National Conference, have urged the Congress to be more accommodating towards its regional allies.

Now that the assembly polls are over, discussions on seat-sharing are expected to commence. Earlier this year, 26 parties joined forces to form the INDIA bloc, aiming to challenge the BJP in what they deemed a “do-or-die” election. They have already held three rounds of discussions in Patna, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.