India Political highlights: Chirag Paswan joins NDA ahead of key meet

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and two other BJP candidates have been declared elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. (ANI)

Chirag Paswan joins NDA

UPA's 10 years were of non-governance and corruption; India has decided to give mandate to BJP under PM Modi again in 2024: BJP chiefNadda.

NDA ideal alliance to serve people, not just to gain power, Nadda said tageting the Opposition.

'NDA constituents upbeat due to positive impact of Modi govt's schemes, policies'

Reach and scope of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) increased over the years, saysBJP chief J PNaddaon eve of meeting of ruling coalition.

Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray, Omar Abdullah, among others joined the informal Oppn meet in Bengaluru. Meeting will be followed by dinner hosted by CM Siddaramaiah.

Leaders have arrived at Taj West end for informal meeting of Opposition.

"The Opposition meet is a photo op. This is a coming together to offset corruptions of Rs 20 lakh crore. Na hi neta hai, na neeyat hai, na neeti hai," Nadda said.

38 parties have confirmed their participation in NDA meeting to be held Tuesday evening: BJP chief J P Nadda

Praful Praful Patel says he and Ajit Pawar will attend NDA meeting in Delhi tomorrow.

A day ahead of the ruling National Democratic Alliance meeting, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Chirag Paswan met Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday as his party looks to seal its seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (PTI)

The BJP on Monday called the opposition parties' meet in Bengaluru a "meeting of opportunists and power-hungry" leaders and said such an alliance will not do any good for the country at present or in the future. (PTI)

Ajit meets uncle Sharad Pawar, requests him to keep NCP 'united'. Senior Pawar remains silent.

West Bengal CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee arrivedin Bengaluru for the two-day joint Opposition meeting on Tuesday.

HDK dubs talks of electoral tie-up between JD(S) and BJP for Lok Sabha polls 'premature'

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy terms talks of electoral tie-up between his party and BJP for Lok Sabha polls "premature". "General elections are still eight to nine months away. Let's see," he said.

May Bengaluru meeting lead to restoration of secular, socialist and democratic values: Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday expressed hope that the meeting of Opposition parties here would lead to restoration of secular, socialist, and democratic values as enshrined in the Constitution. He welcomed the leaders of "prominent" opposition leaders in the country who have come together to fight against authoritarianism, communalism, and corruption.

Attempts being made to breathe new life into NDA after Patna opposition meeting: Congress

The Congress on Monday asserted that Opposition unity would be "a game changer" for the Indian political scenario and took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA which had become a "ghost".

Addressing a press conference here on the two-day crucial deliberations of Opposition parties starting this evening, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suddenly remembered the NDA.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) serves disqualification notice against Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairperson

Shiv Sena (UBT) served a notice of disqualification against Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairperson Dr Neelam Gorhe,whojoined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

On moral grounds, she can't occupy the chair, said Leader of Opposition in Council Ambadas Danve of Shiv Sena (UBT) and his party MLC Anil Parab.

In Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and eight new NCP ministers were introduced in Assembly and council by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, respectively.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) are likely to attend the NDA meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have left for the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

'If he (PM Modi) is stronger than entire Opposition...', Kharge targets BJP over NDA meet

On the NDA meeting, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "...If he (PM Modi) is stronger than the entire Opposition and he alone is enough for them, why is he calling together the 30 parties? Disclose the names of these parties. Are they even registered with the Election Commission? People with us have always been with us... They are baffled by what we are doing, so they are gathering factions of parties to show their strength."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also refuted reports that NCP chief Sharad Pawar will not attend the Bengaluru Opposition meeting on July 18.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) members are protesting in the stairs ofVidhan Bhavan complex against the BJP government over various issues. Credit: Special Arrangement

When asked about topics for the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru and if UPA will get a new name, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, "We will take all decisions. I can't tell you now what are the issues that are going to be discussed. Congress is not deciding this alone. All the Opposition parties will sit together and decide unitedly."

'Attempts are being made to breathe new life into NDA,' says Jairam Ramesh in a dig at BJP

Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said, "PM and BJP are baffled. After the Patna meeting (of Opposition), the PM suddenly thought of NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into NDA. Suddenly, it was reported that NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. This is a result of the meeting in Patna..."

Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav to travel to Bengaluru in afternoon for Opposition meet

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav will travel to Bengaluru on Monday for attending the second meeting of the Opposition parties.

Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

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Like Karnataka, entire country will give us mandate in 2024, says D K Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar said, "...I think all the Opposition parties of this country, except a few, have joined together for a good beginning... This is not the meeting of an individual political party, it is shaping this country for the future of 140 crore people who are suffering on various issues... We feel that with this understanding andunity, we will take it forward and the results will come out - as Karnataka gave us a mandate, the entire country will give us a mandate in 2024. We will take it forward..."

Oppn parties have a common goal to protest democracy, says K C Venugopal

Ahead ofthe joint Opposition meeting, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said, "We are all united by a common purpose - to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions. These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP government. They wanted to silence the Opposition's voice. They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example..."

In Mumbai, MLAs of MVA are protesting outside the Maharashtra Assembly against the State Government over various issues.

'JD(S) doesn't truly believe in secular politics,' Karnataka Congress hits back

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has left from 10 Janpath in Delhi for Bengaluru to attend two-day joint Opposition meeting.

Opposition never considered JD(S) a part of them, says HD Kumaraswamy

On joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy says, "Opposition never considered JD(S) a part of them. So, there is no question of JD(S) being a party of any Mahagathbandhan." On any invitation from NDA, he says, "NDA has not invited our party for any meeting. We will see on that front."

NCP junks media reports on Sharad Pawar skipping Oppn meet, says supremo to attend meet tomorrow

Meanwhile, NCP too junked media reports stating that Sharad Pawar will skip Opposition meeting in Bengaluru.Sharad Pawar Saheb will be present for the meeting of Opposition parties scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on July 18.

Sharad Pawar to attend Opposition meet in Bengaluru, says party chief spokesperson

Amid buzz that NCP supremo may not attend Opposition meet in Bengaluru, party chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase has said that Sharad Pawar and party working president Supriya Sule will attend themeeting.

Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former CM Uddhav Thackeray, his son and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray and close aide and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut are expected to attend the Bengaluru meeting of Opposition leaders.

Sharad Pawar is not going to the Opposition meeting, what happens to Shiv Sena (UBT)? asks MLA Nitesh Rane

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar is unlikely to attend the Opposition unity meeting scheduled in Bengaluru.

What's on the agenda of the second Opposition meet?

> There is a proposal to set up a subcommittee for drafting a common minimum programme and communication points for the Opposition alliance for the 2024 general elections, the sources said.

> Besides, the sources said, the plan is also to set up a subcommittee for chalking out the joint programme of parties that includes rallies, conventions and agitations.

> A plan to discuss the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis is also on the table. Theoppositionleaders may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission, the sources said.

> Theoppositionleaders also plan to suggest a name for the alliance.

On the eve of the meeting hosted by it, the Congress stated that it will oppose the ordinance on Delhi administrative services in Parliament, a key condition put by the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the talks.

26 Oppn parties likely to attend two-day brainstorming session from Monday to take on BJP

Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

According to sources, the leaders are likely to hold discussions on issuing a joint declaration and move forward on their proposal of putting up common opposition candidates in a majority of the Lok Sabha seats. (PTI)

YSR Congress turned state into 'Hatyandra Pradesh': Chandrababu Naidu

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday criticised the ruling YSR Congress Party on Sunday over the murder of a teacher allegedly due to political rivalry.

Maharashtra monsoon session: NCP (Sharad Pawar) camp seeks sitting arrangement in Opposition benches

Chief whip of NCP (Sharad Pawar camp) Jitendra Awhad has written to the Maharashtra Assembly speaker seeking separate sitting arrangement for members of the Ajit Pawar camp and the rest of MLAs of the party for the legislature session beginning Monday.