New Delhi: The Opposition’s INDIA bloc is set to hold a crucial meeting in New Delhi on Monday as alliance partners attempt to address growing internal challenges and chart a common strategy for the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.
The meeting, scheduled at the Constitution Club, comes at a time when the coalition is grappling with significant political developments, including the departure of the DMK and recent electoral setbacks faced by the Trinamool Congress. The venue marks a shift from previous gatherings, which were typically hosted at the residences of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge.
The alliance has been unsettled by the Congress party’s decision to end its long-standing partnership with the DMK following disagreements over power-sharing in Tamil Nadu. The DMK, led by M.K. Stalin, has confirmed that it will neither attend the meeting nor remain part of the INDIA bloc. The Congress subsequently aligned itself with Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a move that has reportedly raised concerns among several alliance members.
At the same time, the political landscape within the bloc has been altered by the Trinamool Congress’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The outcome has weakened expectations of a non-Congress leader emerging as the alliance’s national face. Trinamool leaders are expected to raise issues related to alleged attacks on party workers and seek support from alliance partners.
While the Aam Aadmi Party has publicly distanced itself from the coalition, the CPM will participate despite expressing dissatisfaction with recent remarks made by Rahul Gandhi regarding Kerala politics.
Leaders are also expected to discuss reports that the government may reintroduce the delimitation and women’s reservation Constitution Amendment Bills during the monsoon session. The Opposition had earlier united to block the measures, and maintaining a coordinated response is likely to be a key focus of the meeting.
