Opposition Meet: Stalwarts of 24 political parties would attend the second opposition unity meeting being convened by Congress in Bengaluru on July 17-18. According to sources, eight new parties have confirmed their support to the opposition against the BJP ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Sources said that after the big opposition meeting in Bihar’s Patna last month, the second meeting to be held in Karnataka’s Bengaluru will be attended by top leaders of 24 political parties. The opposition unity meeting included Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress ( Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani) are among the new political parties that will attend the meeting.
Sonia Gandhi to attend meet
According to sources, Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi will also attend the meeting of opposition parties. The KDMK and the MDMK were earlier allies of the BJP during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has also invited top opposition leaders to attend the next unity meeting.
In a letter addressed to top opposition party leaders, the Congress president reminded them about their participation in the opposition meeting held in Patna on June 23 called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “The meeting was a great success as we were able to discuss various important issues threatening our democratic polity and unanimously agreed to fight the next general election unitedly,” Kharge said in his invitation letter.
The Congress President wrote in the invitation letter that I request you to facilitate my participation in the post-dinner meeting on July 17 at 6.00 pm in Bengaluru. The meeting will continue on 18 July 2023 from 11.00 am. Looking forward to meeting you in Bangalore.
Opposition meet in Patna on June 23
The first meeting of opposition unity was held in Patna on 23 June, which was attended by over 15 parties and was called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Among those who attended the meeting were AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
