Bangaluru meet aimed at saving INDIA, Opposition leaders

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said his party was not interested in power or the Prime Minister's post.  Our intention in this meeting is not to gain power for ourselves. It is to protect our Constitution, democracy, secularism and social justice," Kharge said. Addressing the meeting of the Opposition parties as part of an attempt to forge a common platform to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 national elections in Bangaluru, Kharge on Tuesday said there are differences among them at the state level. He added the differences can be put aside for the sake of protecting the people. These leaders also decided that  the united opposition front will be known as I-N-D-I-A -- the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.

We have come together to save Democracy and the Constitution. With one voice, we have agreed to have a name for the alliance.

1⃣The new name is -

INDIA
I - Indian
N - National
D - Developmental
I - Inclusive
A - Alliance

2⃣ 11-member coordination committee shall be…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 18, 2023

In his address, Rahul Gandhi called a "Modi versus INDIA" battle for the 2024 general elections. The fight is between NDA and INDIA, Narendra Modi and INDIA, his ideology and INDIA. India always wins all fights," said Gandhi. "The fight is about two different ideas of India... The voice of the country is being stifled. The fight is for the voice of the country. So this name was chosen -- INDIA," he added.

Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance - INDIA

यह लड़ाई NDA और INDIA के बीच है।

यह लड़ाई नरेन्द्र मोदी जी और INDIA के बीच है।

BJP की विचारधारा और INDIA के बीच है।

: @RahulGandhi जी pic.twitter.com/4CE0FagmL9

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 18, 2023

Later addressing the media, Kharge said, "We are making a coordination committee of 11. At that meeting in Mumbai, we will decide on who the 11 will be, who the Convenor will be, etc. These are small things".Mamata Banerjee said today's meeting was "very good, constructive, fruitful". The next meeting in Mumbai will also focus on a Common Minimum Programme, she said.

This meeting is good and fruitful. Its outcome will be beneficial for this country.

: CM of West Bengal @MamataOfficial ji pic.twitter.com/mnPXnbbo81

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 18, 2023

General Secretary, CPI(M) Sitaram Yechuri said that this meeting is important because we want to save India, as we know what India is. "The country is under tremendous multi-dimensional assault. The country has to be saved in order to change for the better," he said.