INDIA Bloc Leaders Meet in Delhi Today Amid Frictions; DMK Absent, Left Unhappy

New Delhi (IANS): Twenty-three political parties have confirmed their participation in the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on Monday.

The gathering comes at a time when internal strains face the coalition, with key ally DMK staying away and Left parties expressing dissatisfaction over recent alliance developments.

The coalition has branded the gathering as the “INDIA janbandhan” meeting. Leaders expect to deliberate on the alliance’s future course, including preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and coordination on key political issues.

The Constitution Club will host the meeting, which serves as an important exercise in opposition unity while alliance parties seek to strengthen cooperation against the ruling government.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh announced that 23 parties had confirmed their participation. He noted that while some alliance partners would miss the gathering, they continue to share the coalition’s opposition to the Centre’s policies.

“There are some parties that have expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons, even though they have conveyed their strong opposition to the Modi government’s policies,” Ramesh stated in a post on X.

According to sources, alliance partners convened the meeting following internal discussions and at the insistence of the Trinamool Congress. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the party’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, plan to attend the gathering.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien underlined the alliance’s commitment to collective action. Quoting Ramesh’s post, he stated, “Meeting with a common purpose and clear intent. INDIA united. Many parties look forward to meeting in the spirit of camaraderie.”

He further emphasised that diversity drives the alliance’s strength. “Like India itself, the ‘INDIA janbandhan’ continues to stand united through its diversity,” he added.

Outlining the agenda, Ramesh said opposition parties stood united in their criticism of several government actions. He specifically targeted “actions that are snatching away the right to vote for millions of Indians, assaulting the Constitution daily, attacking Opposition leaders through investigative agencies, seriously damaging the livelihoods of crores of Indians, breaking household budgets through relentless price rise, betraying the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of youth, dampening investment climate, and compromising the national interest by its foreign policy.”

Leaders expect to conclude the INDIA bloc meeting with discussions on strengthening coordination among constituent parties and shaping a common political strategy ahead of future electoral contests.