The second-day meeting of the Opposition in Mumbai is taking place concurrently with the establishment of a committee to explore the feasibility of implementing ‘one nation, one election.’
Prominent leaders from the Opposition coalition known as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) have initiated crucial discussions to solidify their alliance’s structure and chart their strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where they aim to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
This Day 2 gathering involves 28 opposition parties at Mumbai’s Hotel Grand Hyatt and coincides with discussions about the possibility of early elections and the formation of a committee to assess the viability of ‘one nation, one election.’
Key updates from the INDIA Alliance meeting in Mumbai include:
- During the formal discussions in the third round of the Opposition meeting, leaders of the I.N.D.I.A. coalition are expected to release a joint statement and unveil a coordination panel, as well as sub-panels, to structure their electoral plans effectively.
- Opposition leaders have criticized the government’s move to establish a committee to examine the feasibility of ‘one nation, one election,’ alleging that it could undermine the country’s federal structure. D Raja, a leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI), questioned how Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who often emphasizes India’s democratic values, could make a unilateral decision without consulting other political parties. Sanjay Raut, from the Shiv Sena (UBT), stated that the country is already united, emphasizing the demand for a fair election over ‘one nation, one election,’ which he sees as a diversionary tactic.
- These remarks followed the appointment of former President Ram Nath Kovind to lead the committee tasked with exploring the possibility of “one nation, one election.”
- Regarding the call for a special session of Parliament, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed that addressing pressing issues such as farmers’ concerns, unemployment, and foreign affairs should be the priority. She questioned when the government would form a committee to address issues like inflation, corruption, rising unemployment, and women’s reservation.
- The I.N.D.I.A. coalition meeting also passed a resolution congratulating ISRO on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The resolution highlighted ISRO’s achievements and its contribution to the nation’s pride, emphasizing the importance of fostering a spirit of scientific curiosity among the youth.
- Sanjay Raut mentioned that the unveiling of the coalition’s logo, a significant component of the alliance, has been postponed and will be discussed at a later time.
- During informal discussions over dinner on the previous night, leaders stressed the urgency of finalizing seat allocation and formulating a joint agenda within the next few weeks.
- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge requested leaders from various parties to nominate a representative from their respective parties for the coordination committee.
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed that the coalition should release its manifesto by October 2, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called for seat allocation among parties for the Lok Sabha elections to be finalized by the end of the following month.
- Prominent leaders participating in these intense discussions include Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Lalu Prasad, MK Stalin, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, and Jayant Chaudhary, among others.
