INDIA bloc resolves to fight LS polls together as far as possible

The INDIA bloc Friday resolved to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together "as far as possible", asserting that seat-sharing arrangements in states will be concluded at the earliest in a spirit of "give-and-take".Amid speculation of early polls and the formation of a panel to explore the possibility of 'one nation, one election', Opposition bloc leaders took crucial decisions, including setting up of a 14-member coordination committee that will act as the top decision-making body of the alliance and start work on seat sharing.In a resolution passed at the meeting in Mumbai,the INDIA bloc said that seat-sharing arrangements in different states will be initiated immediately and concluded at the earliest in a collaborative spirit of give-and-take, it said.

"We, the INDIA parties, hereby resolve to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections together as far as possible. Seat-sharing arrangements in different states will be initiated immediately and concluded at the earliest in a collaborative spirit of give-and-take," reads the… pic.twitter.com/sfpmuqYVfC

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2023

As per information, a moment of apparent discord was struck by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who opposed the political resolution because it included calls for a caste-based census. Bihar's ruling Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal, as well as Samajwadi Party from Uttar Pradesh, backed the inclusion of caste census in the resolution. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the BJP-led central government accusing them of "playing vendetta politics". He alleged that the government will increasingly misuse the agencies against Opposition leaders as the INDIA bloc gains ground.

#WATCH | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on INDIA alliance meeting in Mumbai

"Today, without asking anyone, the opposition, a special session of Parliament has been called. A special session of Parliament was never called even when Manipur was burning, during the COVID-19… pic.twitter.com/wjwkDEMzPJ

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2023

INDIA bloc's 14-member coordination panel include: Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, AAP MP Raghav Chadha, DMK leader TR Baalu, Javed Khan from Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal United national president Lalan Singh, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, CPI leader D Raja, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti. A member from CPI(M) is to be announced.