Bengaluru: Only few months are left for the Lok Sabha Elections. The Opposition parties have started planning various strategies to defeat the BJP at any cost. This time the Opposition parties are united to defeat the BJP. In this regard, the Opposition parties will hold a meeting in the city on July 18.
This is the second meeting of Opposition parties. The first meeting of the Opposition alliance was held in Patna, Bihar late June. Leaders of 16 parties participated in the meeting chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
A total of 15 Opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Aam Aadmi Party, RJD and JD (U) participated in the meeting. As the meeting failed to reach an agreement on the alliance, the Opposition parties decided to hold another meeting.
Initially, the meeting was scheduled to be held in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh on July 12 or 14. Finally a meeting is scheduled to be held in Bangalore on July 18. Congress has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the discussion in the meeting. Three days ago, the Congress had invited a total of 24 Opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party.
In Maharashtra, the NCP is going to be consulted about the split. At least 400 constituencies are being discussed to field a consensus candidate to face the BJP. There will also be appointment of coordinators for the grand alliance against the BJP.
In this meeting, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress All India General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee will accompany him like last time. According to sources, Mamata Banerjee will arrive in Bangalore on July 17. On that day, the Congress has organised a special dinner for the Opposition leaders and CM Siddaramaiah will attend.
It is unclear whether AAP will attend the meeting in Bangalore, as they have announced that it will stay away from such meetings until the Congress publicly promises its support in the Rajya Sabha to oppose the Centre’s ordinance on Delhi services.