The crucial meeting of the INDIA bloc commenced at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Monday, drawing leaders from across the opposition spectrum. Among those present were Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee along with Abhishek Banerjee, NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav.
Virtual Participation and Party Stance
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray participated virtually in the meeting. Party leader Sanjay Raut confirmed this on X, stating, "Today, in the INDIA Bloc meeting in Delhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray will participate virtually. Shiv Sena (UBT) remains a committed member of the INDIA Alliance. Our consistent stand has been — and will continue to be — that the INDIA Bloc must become more united and stronger. We will fight together against the grave challenges facing the nation and bring meaningful change in 2029."
Context of the Meeting
The meeting takes place roughly a month after elections were conducted in five states and a Union Territory: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The Tamil Nadu results significantly altered the state’s political landscape, with Vijay-led TVK emerging as the single largest party, though it fell just short of securing a majority. The Congress, which contested the election in alliance with the DMK, extended unconditional support to TVK after the results. This decision strained its relationship with the DMK, leading the MK Stalin-led party to sever ties with the Congress and skip the INDIA bloc meeting.
Mamata Banerjee’s presence at the meeting marks her visit to Delhi after her party’s recent electoral defeat in West Bengal at the hands of the BJP. The party is already grappling with internal turmoil following a major split led by MLA Ritabrata Banerjee.
Attendance and Future Plans
According to Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, 23 parties are participating in the meeting. The opposition alliance aims to consolidate its unity and strategize for the upcoming challenges, with a focus on the 2029 general elections.
