Bengaluru, July 18 ( P2P News Service): In a joint press conference held after a meeting of 26 opposition parties in Bengaluru, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the formation of an opposition alliance called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against the ruling NDA (National Democratic Alliance). The alliance aims to save democracy and uphold the Constitution for the benefit of the country’s people. The name “INDIA” was suggested by Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and its full form underwent extensive discussion.
As part of the alliance, an 11-member coordination committee will be established, with the composition to be finalized in a subsequent meeting in Mumbai. A common secretariat will be set up in Delhi for campaign management, and specific committees will be formed to address various issues. The opposition leaders emphasized their unity in the interest of the country and their determination to contest the elections together.
The opposition alliance criticized the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of attacking the country, contributing to rampant unemployment, and concentrating the nation’s wealth in the hands of a few. They framed the fight as one between the BJP’s ideology and the idea of India, vowing to defend the Indian Constitution, the voice of the people, and the core principles of the country.
The press conference was attended by prominent leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena party chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister), and representatives from other opposition parties. The face of the alliance and the convenor of the coordination committee were yet to be announced. The opposition leaders conveyed their determination to fight against what they perceived as dictatorship and assured the people that they were fighting for the country’s well-being.