Key Takeaways
- The opposition parties united under a new name, forming the INDIA alliance to challenge the BJP.
- Leaders pledged to implement a Caste Census and protect minorities, Dalits, Adivasis, and Kashmiri Pandits.
- The alliance plans a follow‑up meeting in Mumbai to discuss seat‑sharing and campaign strategy.
On Tuesday, July 18, the NDA held a meeting in the national capital, joined by representatives of 38 political parties.
Meanwhile, the Opposition concluded its two‑day meeting in Karnataka’s Bengaluru. The parties opposed to the BJP have got a new name – INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) – and the gathering was attended by 26 political parties.
While on the one hand, PM Modi labelled the meeting as a matter of immense joy, and stated that the NDA is a ‘time-tested’ alliance, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, ‘NDA is holding a meeting with 30 parties. I have not heard about so many parties in India. Earlier, they didn’t hold any meetings but now they are meeting one by one (with NDA parties). PM Modi is now afraid of opposition parties. We have gathered here to save democracy and the Constitution.’
It has also been announced by the Opposition that the next meeting of theirs will be held in Mumbai, to discuss details on seat-sharing and campaign management. ‘We have come together to save this grave situation in the country.’, expressed Kharge.
‘We pledge to present to the nation, an alternative political, social, and economic agenda. We have come together to defeat hatred and violence against minorities, women, Dalits, Adivasis, and Kashmiri Pandits.’, a joint declaration of the 26-party alliance said.
It further read, ‘We have come together to demand a fair hearing for all socially, educationally and economically backward communities; and, as a first step, implement the Caste Census.’
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed, ‘This fight is not between two political formations but the 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 the BJP.’
‘In the last nine 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.’, asserted Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee, said, ‘BJP, can you challenge INDIA? We love our motherland, we are the patriotic people of the country, we are for farmers, Dalits, we are for country, for the world. INDIA will win, our country will win and BJP will lose.’
