A day after the vertical split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra, the Congress on Monday announced that the next Opposition meet would take place in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18.
The announcement was meant to convey that the Opposition parties would not be deterred by the developments in Maharashtra and it had only strengthened their resolve to come together.
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“After a hugely successful All-Opposition meeting in Patna, we will be holding the next meeting in Bengaluru on 17 and 18 July, 2023. We are steadfast in our unwavering resolve to defeat the fascist and undemocratic forces and present a bold vision to take the country forward,” tweeted Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal.
The Bengaluru meet, sources indicated, is likely to focus on possible Opposition-ruled States where “Operation Lotus” could be carried out.
A perception has gained ground that the Janata Dal (United) could also meet a similar fate as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held one-on-one meetings with JD(U) MPs on Sunday.
Former JD(U) chairman Upendra Kushwaha, who quit the JD(U) in February and formed the Rashtriya Janata Lok Dal, claimed that “Mr. Kumar is making last-minute efforts to prevent a split”.
But the JD(U) rubbished the claims and maintained that the party legislators were fully behind Mr. Kumar.
Endorsing Mr. Kushwaha’s comments, Union Minister and Republican Party of India leader, Ramdas Athawale, on Monday claimed even Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary could come to National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold as he [Mr. Chaudhary] is reportedly upset with Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
“After the Karnataka election, the BJP is jittery and desperate. That’s why they are spreading lies and want to create doubt and suspicion about JD(U). When we meet in Bengaluru, we will discuss how the BJP manipulates to hold on to power,” Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja told The Hindu.
Stung by the sudden developments in Maharashtra that threatens to make the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — the alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the NCP — completely defunct, several top Opposition leaders including Mr. Kumar spoke to NCP president Sharad Pawar.
Other prominent leaders include West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former Congress chiefs, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
“Yesterday when the BJP Washing Machine restarted in Mumbai with its ICE (Income tax, CBI, ED) detergent, BJP-inspired obituaries on Opposition unity were being planted. The obit writers will be disappointed,” tweeted Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh and shared an image of a pack of detergent powder that had the Prime Minister’s photo superimposed.
“If anything the Mumbai operations have strengthened Opposition resolve,” Mr. Ramesh added.
“The events in Maharashtra strengthens our resolve further in working towards bringing democracy to defeat dictatorship in 2024,” Trinamool Congress leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said.
(With inputs from Sobhana K. Nair)
