Leaders of the Opposition alliance I-N-D-I-A on Friday will be convening to lay their roadmap for the upcoming 2024 General Assembly elections and discuss strategy to compete with Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Pics/Pradeep Dhivar
Updated On: 2023-09-01 12:15 PM IST
Compiled by : Sanjana Deshpande
The meeting being conducted in Mumbai is the third huddle of the bloc which will be attended by 63 representatives of 28 political parties. Sitaram Yechury, the Secretary-General of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was seen waving to the reporters at Grand Hyatt hotel in Vakola, Santacruz.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who convened the first meeting in Patna in June, is also in attendance of the meeting.
Nitish Kumar’s Deputy, Tejashwi Yadav is also attending the Mumbai meet and accompanying him is his father, former Bihar CM and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. RJD chief in his previous statement had said that they are in Mumbai to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government [from power].
Senior lawyer and politician Kapil Sibal was also spotted entering the venue of the I-N-D-I-A bloc’s meeting on Friday where they are also expected to unveil their logo. In the background can be spotted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut chatting with his colleagues.
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and MP Rahul Gandhi arrived at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai together for the meeting.
Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee too will be attending the Opposition bloc meeting. On Thursday while talking to the reporters, she said, “Hoga Hoga, Khela Hoga” which roughly translates to ‘Game is on’.
Wheel-chair bound Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) MP Farooq Abdullah too arrived for the meeting along with his son and former CM of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also arrived in the city to attend the meeting of the Opposition bloc.
The third meeting of the Opposition bloc has been convened by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising of Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction, Sharad Pawar-led faction of Nationalist Congress Party and Congress. Pawar Sr was seated beside Uddhav Thackeray who appears to have delivered the opening note.
Another photo showed Sitaram Yechury and Rahul Gandhi interacting with each other at the meeting.
NCP leaders Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, AAP MP Raghav Chadha and TMC Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien were also spotted at the meet.
