Leaders from 26 parties gathered for the second day to strategise a united front against the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The alliance introduced a new name, ‘I.N.D.I.A,’ and several leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Uddhav Thackeray, and Arvind Kejriwal, spoke at the meeting.
#WATCH | In the last 9 years, PM Modi could have done a lot of things but he destroyed all the sectors. We have gathered here not for ourselves but to save the country from hatred…, says AAP supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/gqqhuJnZBX
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2023
Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the Congress is not driven by power or the desire for the post of prime minister, and announced that the next opposition meeting will be held in Mumbai, with dates to be announced soon. Rahul Gandhi characterised it as a “fight between Narendra Modi and India,” while praising the alliance’s new name.
#WATCH | This fight is not between 2 political formations but fight is to defend the idea of India. If you will see history, you will find that nobody has been able to fight the idea of India. It's a fight between the idea of India and Narendra Modi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/SLSXCjMYPI
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2023
Uddhav Thackeray emphasised the people’s movement against dictatorship and assured their commitment to securing freedom.
हम सभी INDIA के लिए लड़ रहे हैं।
हमारी लड़ाई तानाशाही के खिलाफ है, इसलिए हम साथ आए हैं।
हम देश की जनता से कहते हैं- आप डरो मत
हम हैं ना
: अध्यक्ष शिवसेना (UBT) @OfficeofUT जी pic.twitter.com/ORBSUAwqxh
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 18, 2023
Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, M K Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren, and Lalu Prasad were among the notable leaders in attendance.
The opposition leaders adopted the slogan “Jeetega Bharat,” meaning “India will win”, with the belief that the meeting would significantly impact the Indian political landscape. The alliance has not yet revealed its prime ministerial candidate or finalised the seat-sharing arrangement.
The opposition meeting coincided with the NDA meeting held on 18 July 2023 in Delhi. As per the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), certain parties among the 38 total parties have departed from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) but have now rejoined the alliance with the aim of bolstering India.
Chirag Paswan, President of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) and his uncle Pashupati Paras also attended the meeting.
"Thank you respected PM Modi for this affection and respect", Chirag Paswan on NDA meet
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/7nUbp35cAG#NDAMeeting #PMModi #ChiragPaswan pic.twitter.com/e7Up5HWYzV
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) July 19, 2023
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) represented by Praful Patel and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar were also in attendance at the meeting. Praful Patel said that the NCP was an integral part of the NDA.
#WATCH | NCP leader (Ajit Pawar faction) Praful Patel speaks on the NDA meeting in Delhi, says, "I and Ajit Pawar were present at the NDA meeting today along with 38 political parties. NCP is an integral part of NDA. In future, NCP will work with the NDA" pic.twitter.com/u53OFbAMjQ
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2023
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