From seat sharing to logo unveiling: Here’s all about 3rd INDIA bloc meeting 

Leaders of the INDIA bloc are all set to commence the third opposition meeting in Maharashtra’s Mumbai today (August 31) during which they are likely to announce a coordination committee and a logo for the alliance.

INDIA bloc 3rd meeting today, Here’s the agenda:

In the two-day meeting, to be held on August 31 and September 01, the leaders will also see leaders announcing a few panels to draft a common minimum programme of the opposition alliance, to frame joint plans for holding agitations across India and for seat sharing.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said that seat sharing in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will be done as per the merit of the parties in different states.

He said that a discussion on this will be held in upcoming meetings.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Nana Patole said, “Our main goal is to end this dictatorship. This decision (seat sharing) will be taken as per the merit of the parties in different states. This will be discussed in the upcoming meetings of INDIA.”

Further, RJD’s Manoj Jha told news agency PTI, “The Mumbai meeting shall come out with a clear-cut roadmap for providing a progressive alternative to the regressive policies of the current regime.”

Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has been making extensive preparations for the meeting in the state for a couple of days.

On Wednesday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said, “63 leaders of 28 political parties will attend the INDIA meeting and it will become an option to bring a change in the country.”

Here’s a list of parties attending INDIA bloc Mumbai meeting today:

• Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)
• Indian National Congress
• All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)
• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
• Janata Dal (United)
• Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)
• Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
• Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
• Samajwadi Party (SP)
• Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD)
• Apna Dal (Kamerwadi)
• Jammu And Kashmir National Conference (NC)
• People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
• Communist Party Of India (Marxist)
• Communist Party Of India (CPI)
• Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)
• All India Forward Block
• Marumalarchi Dravia Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK)
• Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)
• Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (KMDK)
• Communist Party Of India (Marxist – Leninist) Liberation
• Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK)
• Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)
• Kerala Congress (M)
• Kerala Congres – J
• Peasants and Workers Party Of India

Opposition bloc’s members are now increasing

However, there is speculation that the 26-party member alliance might increase to 28 party members.

Ahead of the meeting, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said, “When our first meeting was held in Patna, we were not aware of the details and what will be the name of the alliance. There were 16 parties there (in Patna), in the Bengaluru meeting the number increased to 26 and now we have 28 parties… Slowly all the parties with BJP will come under this INDIA alliance umbrella.”

About INDIA bloc 

Earlier, the first meeting of the bloc was held in June in Bihar’s Patna, while the second gathering in Bengaluru in July finalised its name — Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

Notably, the opposition bloc has been formed to take the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.