Opposition conclave begins in Bengaluru
The meeting of parties in opposition to the BJP government at the Centre started today evening n Bengaluru—the second such meeting after the first one in Patna on June 23. The meetings will continue tomorrow.
While the Patna Meeting was hosted by Nitish Kumar, this one is being hosted by Sonia Gandhi, and naturally, all the Congress bigwigs will be present too.
MK Stalin, Arvind Kejriwal, Nitish Kumar, Hemant Soren, Bhagwant Mann and Lalu Prasad Yadav were among those present at the dinner meeting.
Interestingly, the BJP and its allies, comprising the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will meet tomorrow, also in preparation for the 2024 general elections. Thirty parties will supposedly meet for the first time.
Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties are expected to brainstorm in Bengaluru on Tuesday at the official conclave
Talking to reporters today, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that all important Opposition leaders will attend the main meeting on Tuesday, July 18, including Sharad Pawar (NCP), mamata Banerjee (AITC), Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Nitish Kumar (JD(U)), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Stalin (DMK) and others.
It should be noted that it was Mamata Banerjee who played the peacemaker between the Congress and AAP, convincing the Congress leadership to issue a statement of support for the latter on the issue of opposing the bill, to be brought to Parliament in the monsoon session, granting control of the Delhi government’s bureaucratic cadre to the Union government, bypassing a Supreme Court judgment.
