Politics
The two-day Opposition Parties Meet begins today in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Top leaders from 24 opposition parties have been invited by the Congress party to attend a meeting to discuss plans for the upcoming monsoon session of parliament, as well as, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
During the meeting, to be held in Bengaluru from 17 July to 18 July, the opposition leaders are expected to engage in discussions to resolve any differences and present a unified front for the upcoming general elections in the following year.
A report from NDTV has revealed that there is a proposal to establish a sub-committee.
This sub-committee would be responsible for creating a common minimum programme and communication points for the opposition alliance in preparation for the 2024 general elections.
Additionally, the opposition leaders plan to suggest a name for the alliance.
Following the Congress' support for their campaign against a controversial central order, the Aam Aadmi Party announced their participation in the meet after several days of deliberation.
However, K Chandrasekhar Rao, Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, and Naveen Patnaik will not be present at the event.
The Opposition meeting is taking place against the backdrop of the split in the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar and the violent West Bengal panchayat polls, which resulted in numerous deaths.
The state units of the Congress and Left parties have accused the Trinamool Congress government of oppression.
In the previous meeting for opposition unity, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on 23 June, fifteen parties were in attendance.
The Opposition meeting coincides with a large gathering of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in New Delhi, intended to showcase their strength ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Before the start of the Monsoon Session on 20 July, the NDA expects nearly 30 parties to re-affirm their support for the alliance.