Andalib Akhter
New Delhi: Leaders of the opposition alliance INDIA on Monday underlined the need to protect democratic institutions and address public concerns related to livelihoods as senior representatives of the bloc met in the national capital for a strategy session ahead of future political battles.
Congress President @kharge, CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji, LoP @RahulGandhi, and other alliance leaders attended the meeting.
The meeting, held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, brought together representatives of 23 opposition parties seeking to reassess political strategy and strengthen coordination against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The gathering comes at a time when differences among some alliance partners and recent electoral setbacks have triggered discussions over the bloc’s direction and cohesion.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Union government’s foreign policy approach during his remarks, alleging that India’s traditional diplomatic values and strategic positioning had been weakened.
“Our foreign policy has been severely compromised, and traditional values that India long championed are not being upheld,” Kharge said while addressing concerns beyond domestic politics.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Congress leader K. C. Venugopal said the opposition intended to deliberate on the prevailing political environment in the country, including governance issues and matters affecting students and citizens.
He alleged that anti democratic tendencies and public interest concerns would form part of the discussions, while adding that details of the alliance’s decisions would be shared after the meeting concluded.
Notably, the meeting proceeded without participation from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal, highlighting continuing variations in political priorities within sections of the opposition camp.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee joined the meeting amid ongoing political challenges facing her party. The All India Trinamool Congress has recently faced internal and electoral pressures in West Bengal, prompting renewed debate over opposition unity and leadership.
Political observers expect the meeting to focus not only on immediate parliamentary coordination but also on building a broader electoral framework for future contests, including discussions around opposition unity in the lead up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The INDIA alliance — formed as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance — has projected itself as a platform for coordinated opposition politics, although recent developments suggest that maintaining consensus among its diverse constituents remains one of its central challenges.