Gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has rallied support from a total of 25 parties for the second Opposition Unity meeting in Karnataka's Bengaluru beginning on Monday.
Leaders of 26 Opposition parties converged at a hotel in Bengaluru today as part of their efforts to present a united front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Here are the Highlights of the Opposition meet:
Sonia Gandhi will likely head the united front against the BJP, sources said after the Opposition's second huddle today in Bengaluru. Bihar Chief Minister, who hosted the first meeting in Patna, will be named convenor of the bloc, the sources added.
The Congress betrayed any case of jitters as it welcomed AAP leader Raghav Chadha to the big Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, sending out the message that all is well. At least, for now.
Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties have gathered in Bengaluru to decide on the contours of the front that will take on the BJP next year. The formal talks will take place tomorrow from 11 am to 4 pm.
As opposition parties get down to their second unity show in Bengaluru, a big difference from Round One in Patna is the presence of Sonia Gandhi at a meeting held in a state where the Congress is firmly in control.
Former Union minister and veteran BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad called the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru "an alliance of opportunists". "Such an alliance of opportunists not good for India's present and future," Mr Prasad said, reported news agency PTI.
Sonia Gandhi has arrived at Taj West End in Bengaluru, where opposition parties have gathered for their second meeting to forge an united opposition for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal today hit out at the ruling BJP-led government at the Centre accusing it of misusing probe agencies for its political ends and said that the meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru "will be a game-changer" for India's politics.
Addressing a press conference as opposition parties gather in Bengaluru for the meeting, Mr. Venugopal alleged that BJP wants to "silence the voice of opposition" and said the disqualification of party leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and developments in Maharashtra are examples.
Sharad Pawar is likely to skip the big opposition meeting today at Bengaluru, days after his nephew Ajit Pawar split the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and joined the Eknath Shinde-BJP government in Maharashtra.
Top leaders of 24 opposition parties are expected to attend a meet today in Bengaluru to chalk out a plan to take on the BJP in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the parliament and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.