Oppositions' meet: Ahead of formal discussions tomorrow, 26 parties gather for dinner talks in Bengaluru
New Delhi: Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties have gathered in Bengaluru to decide the strategies of the front that will take on the mighty Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha elections next year. The formal talks will take place on Tuesday from 11 am to 4 pm.
The leaders, who gathered in Bengaluru throughout the day, had a dinner meeting in the evening to formalise the agenda for the closed-door talks on Tuesday.
According to reports, Congress senior leader Sonia Gandhi, who was the chairperson of UPA, will be named the President of the Opposition's front, and Nitish Kumar the Convenor.
Besides Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers MK Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren, Mamata Banerjee, and RJD chief Lalu Prasad are among those taking part in the two-day meet.
Sharad Pawar, whose party underwent a split earlier this month with the rebellion of nephew Ajit Pawar, will join the meeting on Tuesday.
All parties have been asked to suggest the name of the front, which should have the word "India" in it. The tag line will be "United we stand", said reports.
Suggestions have also been sought for the Common Minimum Programme.
"Like-minded opposition parties shall closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare. We want to free the people of India from the autocratic and anti-people politics of hate, division, economic inequality and loot... United We Stand, for this INDIA," tweeted Mallikarjun Kharge.
Well begun is half done!
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023
Like-minded opposition parties shall closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare.
We want to free the people of India from the autocratic and anti-people politics of hate, division, economic… pic.twitter.com/rhPxmpgL3x
The dinner meeting at the Taj West End Hotel this evening saw Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi seated next to each other and having a reportedly one-on-one that lasted almost 20 minutes.
Ahead of the meeting, the Congress has lent its support to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party in fighting the Central Ordinance in the Parliament and has also projected its willingness to be a team player.
The opposition meeting coincides with a BJP show of strength in Delhi, where all the NDA partners are coming together on Tuesday.
