NEW DELHI: Murmurs have started growing over the use of INDIA by the bloc of 26 opposition parties as an alliance to contest against the ruling BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
After the meeting of the opposition parties got over in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the media persons and announced that the opposition bloc will be named Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
Soon there were reports that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar initially did not agree to the acronym INDIA. He is reported to have asked, in the meeting of the opposition leaders, how could the bloc be named INDIA. He was also against INDIA because it had the letters NDA in it and both the names sounded similar.
However, when most of the other leaders favoured INDIA, Nitish is said to have given his assent to it.
Now, Nitish’s sentiments have been aired by JDU’s former ally Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) president Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Manjhi, a former Bihar chief minister, has rejoined NDA and was present in the meeting of 38 parties convened by the BJP in the national capital on Tuesday.
Talking to ANI, Manjhi said, "A party or coalition's name should not be similar to that of the country's name… They've named it hoping to attract the voter's sentiments.”
He further said, “PM Modi's graph is commendable… People outside the country also believe that in 2024, PM Modi will form the government."
Some social media influencers have said on Twitter that the Election Commission should not allow any party or alliance to be named as INDIA, even as an acronym.
Any name or acronym that features in the Constitution cannot be allowed, especially the name of our nation, they added, urging the government to intervene in the matter.
Meanwhile, not just Nitish but also RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Bihar deputy CM Tehashwi Yadav are said to be sulking. They were not present in the press conference of the opposition parties in Bengaluru.
Even after returning to Patna, they did not talk to media persons. They straightaway went to their respective residences without talking to the waiting media.
Though Nitish has not spoken a word on the matter, source-based reports said he was unhappy at not being named the convener of the opposition bloc.
