Oppn coalition for 2024 polls to be named INDIA — Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance

A document accessed The Indian Express mentions the 26 parties’s resolve to “safeguard the idea of India as enshrined in the Constitution”. “The foundational pillars of the Indian Constitution – secular democracy, economic sovereignty, social justice and federalism – are being methodically and menacingly undermined,” it states.

The document further states the “brazen misuse of agencies” by the BJP government at the Centre against poltiicsl rivals and the ignorance of needs of non-BJP rules states. Further, concerns over the “humanitarian tragedy” in Manipur and the “grave economic crisis of ever rising prices of essential commodities and record unemployment” have been raised.

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“We have come together to defeat the hatred and violence being manufactured against minorities; stop the rising crimes against women, Dalits and Adivasis; demand a fair hearing for all socially, educationally and economically backward communities; and, as a first step, implement the Caste Census,” the documents reads.

Leaders from 26 opposition parties, in power individually or in alliance in Delhi and 10 states, include the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party, Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Bloc, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress (M), and Kerala Congress (Joseph).

Addressing the second day of the Opposition unity conclave in Bengaluru, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that his party was not interested in either power or the prime ministerial post. He added, “We’re aware of differences between some of us at state level; these are not ideological” and that they were not so great that they couldn’t be put aside for the “sake of the people”.

Kharge further said, “We are 26 parties, in government in 11 states. BJP didn’t get 303 seats by itself, it used votes of allies then discarded them.” Taking a swipe at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting scheduled for today, he said, “BJP president (J P Nadda) and party leaders are running from state to state to patch up with old allies.” He further said that the Opposition meeting was aimed at protecting the Constitution, democracy, secularism and social justice.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a scathing attack on the Opposition on Tuesday, calling the ongoing meeting of Opposition leaders in Bengaluru a “hardcore corruption convention”. He said these “dynastic” parties followed the mantra of “by and for the family”.

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