Lok Sabha Election 2024: INDIA Bloc holds strategy meet ahead of counting day

New Delhi: As the Lok Sabha elections near their conclusion, the INDIA bloc is conducting a critical strategy meeting. This significant gathering is taking place at the Delhi residence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Prominent leaders including Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party, CPM's Sitaram Yechury, and National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah are already present at the venue.

Trinamool Congress's absence

Notably absent is Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, which is preoccupied with the final phase of the elections and relief efforts for Cyclone Remal that recently impacted Bengal.

Focus on unity and strategy

While the official agenda of the meeting is to develop a strategy for smooth counting at state and district levels, insiders suggest the main focus is on maintaining unity within the bloc. This is especially crucial if the NDA secures a narrow victory, according to Congress leaders. The party predicts the NDA will secure between 260-270 seats, falling just short of the majority mark.

Predicting the outcome

Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav has similarly forecasted that the NDA will win no more than 270 seats, leaving it just shy of a majority. Despite this, the alliance is determined to remain united, regardless of the numbers.

Kharge's rallying call

Ahead of the meeting, Kharge took to X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, "The fight is still not over, and the leaders and workers of all the parties are extremely alert… We have fought the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with all our might and are confident of a positive outcome, as the people of India have supported us."

The leaders of INDIA parties are informally meeting today to take stock of the preparations leading up to the counting day.

The fight is still not over, and the leaders and workers of all the parties are extremely alert.

I thank each one of them for their esteemed presence.… pic.twitter.com/EjcpNAktlT

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 1, 2024

Congress's stance on Exit Polls

With exit polls expected this evening, the Congress has opted out of post-poll discussions, drawing criticism from the BJP. The Congress deems exit polls unnecessary given that the official counting will happen shortly, while the BJP views this as an implicit admission of defeat.

PM Modi returns concludes his meditation

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded his 45-hour meditation retreat at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari and is now returning to Delhi.