*Opposition Bloc INDIA Gears Up for Joint Campaign and Seat-Sharing Talks*
New Delhi, December 24, 2023 — In a pivotal move, leaders from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, consisting of 28 opposition parties, have decided to launch a united campaign against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP in the upcoming 2024 elections. The decision was made during the bloc’s fourth meeting held on December 19 in the national capital.
During the meeting, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed the name of Mallikarjun Kharge as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the opposition bloc, a suggestion supported by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
However, Kharge urged a focus on winning seats before finalizing the Prime Ministerial candidate post-election. Responding to demands for seat-sharing clarity, Kharge announced the formation of a five-member National Alliance Committee, with Mukul Wasnik as the chairman, and members including Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, Mohan Prakash, and Salman Khurshid. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 21, emphasized providing space to regional parties.
The Congress aims to conclude seat-sharing talks within three weeks and is prepared to play a cooperative role. The Congress faces challenges in delicate alliances in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, and Bihar, where it is aligned with parties such as Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, AAP, Trinamool Congress, and Janata Dal-United, respectively.
The INDIA bloc plans to convey a message of unity by organizing eight to ten joint public meetings in crucial states. In a telephonic conversation, Rahul Gandhi clarified the Congress’s stance on Kharge’s proposed candidature and discussed the strength of the alliance with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
Reflecting on the historical collaboration witnessed at his residence in April, Kharge termed the unity of Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav as “historic” and expressed the shared goal of uniting all opposition parties for the upcoming polls. As the INDIA bloc intensifies its preparations, the joint campaign and seat-sharing talks are anticipated to play a pivotal role in shaping the opposition strategy against the NDA in the 2024 elections.
