In a strategic maneuver, the INDIA bloc has rescheduled its much-anticipated fourth meeting to December 19, marking a significant convening after the Congress party encountered electoral setbacks in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Initially slated for December 6, the meeting experienced a postponement due to the unavailability of key opposition leaders.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary, disclosed the revised date and underscored the theme of unity for the gathering, encapsulated in the slogan ‘Main nahi, hum’ (“Not me, but us”). Against the backdrop of uncertainties surrounding opposition unity, Ramesh’s announcement resonated with the rallying cry of “Judega Bharat, jeetega INDIA.”
Prominent figures like Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, and Akhilesh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and leader of the Samajwadi Party, had earlier expressed their inability to attend the initial meeting. The situation was further complicated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s commitment to managing the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung in the state.
While some members of the alliance dispelled rumors of internal discord, acknowledging the leaders’ authentic scheduling conflicts for the December 6 meeting, the aftermath of the Congress’s electoral setbacks in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan prompted reactions from regional leaders. Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool supremo, emphasized that the results were not a victory for the BJP but a consequence of Congress’s shortcomings.
As the INDIA bloc gears up for its pivotal meeting on December 19, the spotlight on unity takes center stage, indicating a collective endeavor to overcome recent challenges and present a cohesive front against political headwinds.
