Day 2 of Opposition meet: UPA likely to get new name
On Tuesday, NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) leader Sharad Pawar participated in an opposition unity meeting aimed at establishing a cohesive strategy for the group of 26 opposition parties to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament) elections against the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).
During the initial day of the meeting, informal discussions took place among the attendees, followed by a dinner meeting. The purpose of these discussions was to create an atmosphere of collaboration and understanding among the opposition parties. On Tuesday, the meeting progressed to formal deliberations, where specific topics were addressed and decisions were made.
One of the key objectives of the meeting was to determine a name for the unified opposition grouping. This name will serve to symbolize the collective identity and shared purpose of the 26 opposition parties. Additionally, the participants discussed establishing a well-defined structure for the alliance, which would likely involve the formation of a core committee or leadership council to oversee the group’s activities.
Another crucial aspect of the meeting was the development of a common agenda. The opposition parties aimed to identify key policy issues and objectives that they could collectively advocate for in their campaign against the BJP. This common agenda would help unite the diverse parties under a common platform and enable them to present a clear alternative vision to the electorate.
By coming together, the opposition parties sought to maximize their electoral impact and challenge the ruling BJP’s dominance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The participation of Sharad Pawar, a seasoned and influential politician, added further weight and experience to the discussions.
During the dinner meeting on Monday night, all the political parties attending were requested to propose names for the opposition alliance. These suggestions would then be discussed, and consensus would be reached during the formal deliberations. This process aimed to ensure that all parties had an opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process regarding the alliance’s name.
Additionally, sources indicate that the participating parties are likely to release a joint declaration. This declaration would serve as a statement of shared objectives, principles, and goals for the opposition grouping. It would provide a unified vision and highlight the collective agenda that the parties intend to pursue in their efforts to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Moreover, the formation of a committee to oversee the functioning of the opposition alliance is expected to be finalized. This committee would be responsible for coordinating the activities of the grouping, strategizing election campaigns, and ensuring effective communication among the participating parties. The committee would play a crucial role in maintaining cohesion and facilitating collaboration among the diverse opposition parties.
Regarding the suggestion of Sonia Gandhi as the chairperson of the new grouping, sources indicate that her name has been put forward. Sonia Gandhi previously served as the chairperson of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) 1 and 2, which formed the government from 2004 to 2014. Her experience and leadership during those years have likely led to the suggestion of her chairing the new opposition alliance. However, it is important to note that the final decision regarding the chairperson would be determined through discussions and consensus among the participating parties.
During the meeting on Tuesday, the opposition leaders, including prominent figures such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, chief ministers from West Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and former chief ministers from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, gathered to discuss and strategize the opposition’s approach for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
As part of the meeting, two sub-committees were announced. The first sub-committee is tasked with finalizing the common minimum program (CMP) of the opposition alliance. The CMP outlines the shared policy objectives and priorities that the opposition parties agree upon, forming the foundation of their collective agenda. This sub-committee will work on crafting the CMP and also establish communication points to ensure effective coordination among the participating parties.
The second sub-committee is responsible for planning and organizing joint opposition events, rallies, and conventions. This committee will strategize and coordinate various public engagements and campaign activities to mobilize support for the opposition alliance. These events aim to showcase the unity and strength of the opposition parties and help garner public attention and support for their cause.
The presence of party presidents, leaders, and chief ministers from several states demonstrates the wide representation and participation of various regional and national parties in the meeting. This diverse gathering underscores the importance and significance attached to the opposition’s efforts to challenge the ruling BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
It is worth noting that the details of the discussions, specific decisions made, and any outcomes from the meeting beyond the provided information would require access to up-to-date sources as my knowledge is limited to information available up until September 2021.
Sharad Pawar, who joined the meeting on the second day, received a warm welcome at the airport. Rahul Gandhi expressed his support for a united opposition in a Facebook post, emphasizing the need to protect democracy and safeguard India’s constitution.
The agenda for the meeting includes discussions on seat-sharing arrangements among states and resolving differences among regional parties. The matter of Manipur was also discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of sending an all-party delegation to address the violence in the state.
On Monday, the issue of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was discussed, and further discussions on this topic were scheduled for Tuesday.
The meeting, hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, was attended by various prominent opposition leaders including Tejashwi Yadav from RJD, Akhilesh Yadav from SP, Uddhav Thackeray from Shiv Sena-UBT, Farooq Abdullah from NC, Mehbooba Mufti from PDP, Sitaram Yechury from CPI-M, D Raja from CPI, Jayant Chaudhary from RLD, and MDMK MP Vaiko.
While the opposition parties came together for the meeting, it coincided with the NDA meeting held in Delhi, where the ruling BJP-led coalition was expected to welcome new allies into its fold.
Despite the talks of unity among opposition parties, there are still differences among them, particularly among those who have traditionally been political rivals. Reconciling these political interests and differences remains a challenge for the opposition as they work towards forming a cohesive front against the ruling coalition.
The previous opposition unity meeting held on June 23, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna, was attended by 15 parties, including Congress, TMC, AAP, CPI, CPI-M, RJD, JMM, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), SP, and JDU.
In the current meeting, additional parties have joined the opposition unity efforts. These parties include MDMK, KDMK, VCK, RSP, CPI-ML, Forward Bloc, IUML, Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Mani), Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) led by Krishna Patel, and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) led by M H Jawahirullah from Tamil Nadu.
Collectively, the participating opposition parties in this meeting have a combined strength of approximately 150 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament.
