After their second meeting in Bengaluru, opposition parties will hold the next meeting of their 26-member INDIA coalition in Mumbai on August 25-26. The third meeting of the bloc will be hosted jointly by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP's Sharad Pawar faction, with support from the Congress. This is the first time that the opposition meeting will be held in a state where no member of the INDIA bloc is in power.
Leaders of 26 opposition parties gathered in Bengaluru earlier this month for the second of such meetings to chalk out a joint programme aimed at defeating the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had announced that the alliance has been named 'INDIA' (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) at the end of the meeting.
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Opposition parties participating in the meeting had aimed at finalising a committee for the functioning of the grouping, along with the common minimum programme. On seat-sharing and the plan to ensure a one-on-one fight between the Opposition parties and BJP on as many seats as possible, AICC general secretary (Organisation) K V Venugopal said, “These are things we will discuss. It may not happen in one meeting, or in two meetings… it will take time.”
The Mumbai Summit -- as it is being called by INDIA bloc parties -- is significant as these discussions regarding seat sharing are expected to be taken up.
