4 min readNew DelhiAug 31, 2023 08:09 AM IST
First published on: Aug 31, 2023 at 07:14 AM IST
Formally anointed as INDIA at the last meeting in Bengaluru, the Opposition grouping is expected to get a more formal shape at the talks beginning in Mumbai on Thursday – or, that is the hope.
As reported by Manoj C G & Alok Deshpande, the road to a now 28-party alliance is bumpy, with INDIA pointedly avoiding minefields such as appointing a convenor and steering clear of the suggestion of a prime minister name. However, more-achievable goals such as a sub-group to work out a common communication strategy, a campaign panel, a logo, and a committee to discuss seat-sharing are on the cards.
Ahead of the meeting, which will see 63 representatives converge at a five-star hotel in Mumbai over Thursday and Friday, INDIA took on the Modi government at a press conference, describing their grouping as more than merely an Opposition, and rather a bulwark to “safeguard Bharat Mata”.
Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee, who arrived in Mumbai a day ahead of the informal talks scheduled for Thursday, set the right tone by calling at the homes of INDIA ally Uddhav to tie Rakhi. She tied another on the wrist of mega star Amitabh Bachchan.
The photo-op apart, she cleverly ducked a query on who will be INDIA alliance PM candidate. “India will be our PM face. Our primary concern is to save the country,” she said.
Away in Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh to condole the death of a party leader, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also found himself facing INDIA questions, and declared that the alliance was ready to face – and win – the 2024 elections anytime. “Farmers, youths, labourers and the poor are angry and upset… The BJP is filling the coffers of capitalists,” he said, scoffing at the decision to cut LPG prices now.
The Congress might not be too pleased about heat coming its way from Rajasthan, just when its Maharashtra unit is rolling out a welcome fit for “Chhatrapati Shivaji” as Rahul Gandhi arrives in Mumbai Thursday. In an interview to Alok Deshpande, Congress state chief Nana Patole explained the welcome, calling Rahul a “warrior” who had taken on a mighty “dictator”.
The blast from Rajasthan will follow Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s remarks Wednesday about “corruption” in the judiciary, alleging that he had heard judgments were written by lawyers.
Gehlot had earlier claimed he never intervened in the workings of the judiciary or government agencies, while slamming the BJP government at the Centre over alleged ‘misuse’ of agencies. Read all about it in Deep Mukherjee’s report.
The Supreme Court in Delhi, meanwhile, will resume hearings in the Bilkis Bano case, on a clutch of petitions challenging the remission granted to all 11 convicts in her case of gang rape and multiple murders during the 2002 Gujarat riots. A Bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, which is hearing the final arguments, will hear the submissions of the accused who are defending their release.
President Droupadi Murmu will start a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh from Thursday, during which she will visit two temples and attend the convocation ceremony at Guru Ghasidas Central University in Bilaspur.
The President will visit Lord Jagannath temple in Raipur and join aarti puja on Thursday. Later, she will inaugurate ‘Sakaratmak Parivartan ka Varsh’ (Year of Positive Change) programme at a Brahma Kumaris centre in Raipur. In the afternoon, she will visit Guru Ghasidas museum, as per an official release.
Congress Maharashtra President Nana Patole, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar during the MVA press conference on the eve of I.N.D.I.A. alliance meeting, in Mumbai, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (PTI Photo) 
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