The opposition INDIA alliance and the ruling NDA are engaged in a direct conflict as the Lok Sabha elections, which are set for early next year, approach. Both alliances will hold concurrent high-level meetings in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on September 1. On September 1 in Mumbai, there will be a joint gathering of the INDIA alliance participants. The meeting will go over seat-sharing in the states and alliance strategies for the Lok Sabha election. It’s also possible that the INDIA alliance will unveil a new logo.
At the same time the NDA alliance in Maharashtra with new partner the Ajit Pawar led NCP faction is also scheduled to meet on the same date in Mumbai. NCP MP Sunil Tatkare, who represents the Ajit Pawar faction said “In this meeting, all our state government alliance partners BJP, ShivSena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) will participate.”
Sunil Tatkare responded when questioned about the meeting’s timing, which falls on the same day as the INDIA alliance meeting, “Our meeting was planned long before the last state assembly Monsoon session by our coordination committee, so it’s no point to say that we are doing this as opposition parties are also having meetings on the same day.” Ashok Chavan, a senior leader in the Congress, has also confirmed that 26 to 27 opposition alliance parties will attend the INDIA meeting.
“An informal gathering will be held on the evening of August 31 in Mumbai and a formal meeting on September 1. So far, two meetings have been organized. So in this third meeting, the next agenda will be discussed. We are deciding to make a common logo and it may get unveiled on August 31,” Ashok Chavan said.
Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar, had hinted at the alliance’s potential expansion while speaking to reporters on Sunday. He said that a few more regional parties were anticipated to join the alliance.