In Big Show Of Unity, INDIA Bloc Held Strategy Meet Ahead Of Counting Day

The INDIA bloc held a crucial strategy meet as the Lok Sabha elections draw to a close. The meeting was held at the Delhi residence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was the only absentee -- the Bengal Chief Minister said she was skipping it in view of the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the state and relief operations for Cyclone Remal that passed through the state earlier this week.  

While the official reason cited for the meeting is to devise a strategy to ensure smooth counting at state and district levels, sources indicate the focus is on keeping the flock together.

The point is crucial ahead of results in the event of the NDA winning by narrow margins, confided Congress leaders. The party is expecting the NDA to get no more than 260-270 seats, which leaves it short of majority mark by just a few seats.  

Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav has predicted no more than 270 seats for the NDA, which leaves it short of the majority mark by just two seats.

But the alliance wants to stick together even if it does not have the numbers.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, ahead of the meeting, Mr Kharge said, "The fight is still not over, and the leaders and workers of all the parties are extremely alert… We have fought the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with all our might and are confident of a positive outcome, as the people of India have supported us".

The exit poll is expected this evening, and the Congress, which initially refused to join in the discussions thereafter, has reversed its decision.

While the Congress said it considers exit polls entirely avoidable, given the counting will take place within days, the BJP has called it a tacit acceptance of defeat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, concluded his 45-hour meditation retreat at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari and is heading back to Delhi.