I.N.D.I.A. to Start Seat Sharing

NEW DELHI: The coordination committee of the Opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. convened its inaugural meeting at the residence of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in the national capital on Wednesday. In a joint statement, K.C. Venugopal stated, "The bloc has decided to initiate the process of seat sharing, and it was agreed that member parties will engage in discussions and make decisions promptly. To facilitate seat sharing, state-level committees will be established to engage with I.N.D.I.A. parties within each state."

Venugopal added, "The committee has also resolved to organise joint public meetings in various regions of the country. The inaugural public meeting is scheduled for the first week of October in Bhopal, addressing the issues of escalating prices, unemployment, and corruption in the BJP-led government. The parties participating in the meeting have also expressed their intention to address the matter of Caste Census." Leaders from 28 Opposition Parties will collectively hold a public meeting in Bhopal to voice their concerns against the BJP-led Central Government.

Addressing concerns about media coverage of the Opposition bloc, the joint statement noted, "The coordination committee has empowered the sub-group on media to determine the names of TV anchors whose shows will not feature representatives from any of the I.N.D.I.A. parties." The bloc asserted that Abhishek Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress was unable to attend the meeting due to a summons from the Enforcement Directorate, which they viewed as part of the BJP's vindictive politics.

The controversy surrounding comments made by some DMK leaders regarding Sanatan Dharam was also discussed. The Opposition bloc collectively agreed that DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had addressed the issue within his party, and it should be considered resolved.

Speaking to the media, AAP MP Raghav Chadha stated, "All (I.N.D.I.A.) alliance parties will participate in the forthcoming public meeting in Bhopal, where we will raise concerns about price hikes, unemployment, and corruption. There was also a consensus on the issue of conducting a Caste Census. Additionally, our media committee has been authorised to release a list of television anchors whose shows our alliance party leaders will not participate in."

Leaders in attendance at the meeting included NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress' K.C. Venugopal, CPI's D. Raja, SP's Jawed Ali Khan, DMK's T.R. Baalu, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, AAP MP Raghav Chadha, JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha, NC leader Omar Abdullah, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, JMM Chief and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, and Shiv Sena UBT Sanjay Raut.