Confusion Or Reluctance? What Mamata Banerjee Has To Say About Upcoming I.N.D.I. Alliance Meeting

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her decision to skip the I.N.D.I. Alliance meeting scheduled for 6 December at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, citing a lack of prior information.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut emphasised that the meeting was not hastily convened, having been planned even before the announcement of assembly election results.

Raut clarified that Kharge had discussed the meeting with Uddhav Thackeray two days before the election results were declared, and Thackeray is set to participate in the meeting after arriving in Delhi.

Raut asserted that the meeting had been planned well in advance, and the participation of any other Trinamool Congress member remains uncertain.

The meeting, involving all 28 coalition members, aims to formulate a final strategy against the ruling BJP in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the primary agenda focusing on seat-sharing.

Two members of the Opposition bloc urged the Congress to initiate immediate seat-sharing talks for the 2024 elections.

The Opposition bloc stressed the importance of allowing uninterrupted proceedings in the ongoing winter session to facilitate participation in debates.

Notably, the I.N.D.I Alliance has convened three meetings previously this year — in Patna on 23 June, Bengaluru on 17-18 July, and Mumbai on 31 August and 1 September.