Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar Announces Next Opposition Meeting in Bengaluru

| 29 June 2023

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar declared on Thursday that the next meeting of the opposition parties would take place in Bengaluru on July 13 and 14. Pawar's announcement came in the wake of the recent Patna meeting, where leaders from over 15 opposition parties had gathered. The NCP leader claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had grown restless after the Patna meet.

The Patna meeting, held on June 23, saw the participation of 17 parties, including the Congress, who resolved to form a united front to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and work together to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They agreed to put aside their differences and adopt a flexible approach. Initially, Shimla was chosen as the venue for the second meeting to discuss and formulate a joint strategy. However, the opposition leaders have now decided to convene in Bengaluru instead.

"After Patna, the next meeting of opposition parties will take place in Bengaluru on July 13 and 14," stated Pawar. The second meeting, to be chaired by Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, is expected to establish a plan of action. Over 32 leaders from various parties attended the first meeting hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his residence in Patna. Notably, leaders such as Mayawati (BSP), Naveen Patnaik (BJD), K Chandrashekar Rao (BRS), and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (YSRCP) were not invited, while RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary couldn't attend due to a prior commitment.

However, there appears to be some ambiguity regarding the exact number of parties that have pledged to confront the BJP collectively. While Nitish Kumar and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee estimated the count to be 17, others, including CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, mentioned a figure of 15. Nevertheless, despite their varied numbers, the opposition parties aim to challenge the BJP, which currently holds a commanding majority with over 300 seats in the Lok Sabha.

The BJP wasted no time in responding to the opposition meeting, labeling it a "multi-headed selfish alliance" and comparing it to wolves hunting in packs. The ruling party remains confident in its dominance, dismissing the opposition's unity as an inconsequential challenge.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, considered the BJP's main rival, secured 52 seats, a slight improvement from its 2014 performance when it won only 44 seats—an all-time low. The combined strength of the opposition parties in the current Lok Sabha falls below 200 out of the total 543 seats. However, the opposition leaders remain hopeful that by joining forces, they can reverse the tide and pose a formidable challenge to the BJP in the upcoming elections.

As the opposition gears up for the Bengaluru meeting, political observers eagerly await the formulation of their joint strategy and the impact it may have on the political landscape ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.