Title: INDIA Bloc Approves Mallikarjun Kharge as Chairperson in Virtual Meeting
In a virtual meeting held on Saturday, the INDIA bloc has reportedly approved Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge as the chairperson of opposition parties. Although an official announcement is pending, sources indicate that the decision was reached during the virtual deliberations.
Initially, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was considered a contender for the position of convener of the INDIA bloc. However, during the meeting, Kumar suggested that someone from the Congress party should assume the role.
The virtual meeting saw the participation of prominent leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, Omar Abdullah, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Arvind Kejriwal, and M.K. Stalin, among others.
While the appointment of a chairperson marks a preliminary step, experts note that the INDIA bloc faces significant challenges ahead, particularly concerning seat-sharing arrangements. Negotiating seat-sharing formulas in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar is anticipated to be a complex task.
The virtual meeting also touched upon discussions about seat-sharing arrangements in Delhi and Punjab. While both parties expressed optimism about the talks progressing positively, sources suggest that there are contentious issues, especially regarding Congress’s demand for seats in Delhi and Punjab. AAP, the ruling party in these states, is reportedly not in agreement with the proposed seat distribution. The seat-sharing formula is also a point of contention for upcoming elections in Goa, Haryana, and Gujarat.
The INDIA bloc, comprising various opposition parties, has united with the objective of challenging the NDA, led by the BJP, and thwarting its bid for a third consecutive term in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
