I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders to meet for the first time since 2024 Lok Sabha polls

New Delhi: Leaders of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc are are scheduled to meet on Saturday (July 19) for the first time in over 13 months after the Lok Sabha results but AAP is all set to give it a slip following political compulsions.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have spoken to leaders like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK supremo MK Stalin about the meeting, sources said.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal has also reached out to leaders of various constituents inviting them to the meeting, which will be the first such meeting after 1 June, 2024, the last day of polling for Lok Sabha elections. Initially, it was meant to be a meeting at Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence but later it was turned into a virtual meeting.

Though party chiefs have not met, Parliamentary party leaders held a few meetings to chalk out floor strategy during sessions. Congress’ defeat in Maharashtra and Haryana polls had led to questions over leadership though the relation was back on the rails during the passage of Waqf Bill.

Also in June, I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties have come together to sign a joint letter demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, US President Donald Trump’s claims of brokering a ceasefire pact between India and Pakistan and offer of mediation and global outreach. Though AAP did not join them, it had raised the demand separately.

There have been demands for an I.N.D.I.A. bloc meeting, but elections as well as political developments after the Assembly elections in late 2024, Trinamool Congress claiming leadership spot and Congress and AAP fighting against each other in Delhi prompted Congress not to call any meeting.

The latest meeting comes two days ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament and the ongoing contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The initial plan was to have a floor leaders’ meeting but leaders like Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and CPI General Secretary D Raja were of the view that a meeting of leaders was long pending.

However, sources said AAP is unlikely to attend the meeting.

Trinamool, which has earlier cited preparations for ‘Martyr Day’ rally on July 21 to commemorate the death of 13 people in police firing on a protest march in 1993 for its inability to attend the meeting, said that it would participate in the meeting after it was announced that it would be a virtual meeting.

Sources said AAP will not be attending the meeting as the party is on an expansion drive, especially in Gujarat where it has severed its ties with the Congress. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has recently said that I.N.D.I.A. bloc was formed only with Lok Sabha elections in mind.

With the party taking on Congress in various states as part of its expansion drive put in place after its Delhi debacle, sources said it is difficult for the AAP to be seen in a platform hosted by Congress.

However, they added that the AAP is with the Opposition and cited instances like issuing a separate letter seeking special Parliament Session on Operation Sindoor parallel to I.N.D.I.A. bloc’s letter.

A senior Opposition leader did not give much importance to the absence of leaders in the upcoming meeting saying there will be unity among Opposition in Parliament.

(With inputs from ETB Sivapriyan, Chennai)