Against the backdrop of widespread suspensions of Members of Parliament (MPs) on consecutive days, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc is set to hold its fourth meeting in New Delhi. Scheduled for today, the crucial gathering will witness the participation of senior leaders, including Sharad Pawar (NCP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Lalu Yadav (RJD), Sonia Gandhi (Congress), Rahul Gandhi (Congress), Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress), Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), MK Stalin (DMK), and Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party).
#WATCH | Meeting of the INDIA Alliance to begin shortly, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Xz90xGI4u1
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
The meeting comes on the heels of a tumultuous parliamentary session, marked by the suspension of 92 MPs on Tuesday, followed by an additional 49 MPs from the Lok Sabha on the subsequent day. Initially scheduled for December 6, the INDIA bloc meeting was rescheduled to the third week of December, adding to the significance of the discussions.
This gathering marks the first meeting of the INDIA bloc following the announcement of election results in five states. Notably, Congress emerged victorious in Telangana, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured wins in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.
The Parliament premises witnessed heightened tensions as opposition MPs staged protests against the mass suspensions, raising concerns about the impact on democratic norms.
Among the prominent figures suspended on Tuesday were Supriya Sule (NCP), Farooq Abdullah (JKNC), Danish Ali (Ex-BSP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Karti Chidambaram (Congress), Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC), Sushil Kumar Rinku (AAP), and Dimple Yadav (Samajwadi Party).
UPDATES :
05:25 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Suspension of Opposition MPs discussed in INDIA bloc meet
“In the INDIA Alliance meeting, the suspension of opposition MPs from the Parliament was taken up for discussion and condemned,” sources told news agency ANI.
04:34 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Congress forms panel for seat sharing
On Tuesday, the Congress party announced the formation of a four-member National Alliance Committee comprised of four senior leaders to negotiate seat adjustments with other INDIA allies.
Former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Maghel, as well as former Union ministers Salman Khurshid and Mukul Wasnik, serve on the Committee, which is convened by veteran party leader Mohan Prakash.
“In the run-up to the General Elections-2024, Hon’ble Congress President has constituted a National Alliance Committee, as follows, with immediate effect,” said party general secretary KC Venugopal in a communique.
The committee’s formation was announced by party general secretary KC Venugopal just minutes before the fourth meeting of the INDIA group in Delhi on Tuesday, in order to send a positive signal to the allies.
04:17 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Watch: Meeting of INDIA bloc begins in Delhi
#WATCH | Meeting of the INDIA Alliance begins, in Delhi.
(Source: AICC) pic.twitter.com/a1WKjhN61U
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
03:47 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
INDIA bloc meeting begins with several Opposition leaders in Delhi.
आज दिल्ली में INDIA गठबंधन की बैठक#INDIAAlliance pic.twitter.com/gat2BW1kH7
— NSUI (@nsui) December 19, 2023
03:31 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge arrived to attend this meeting.
03:19 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi arrives at Ashok Hotel in Delhi to attend the INDIA alliance meeting.
03:18 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Delhi CM and Punjab CM @BhagwantMann arrive at Hotel Ashoka in Delhi to attend INDIA bloc meeting.
03:17 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav arrive at the venue for the INDIA alliance meeting.
03:02 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, arrives in Delhi for the INDIA Alliance meeting.
03:01 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
NCP (Pawar) leaders Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule arrive at Ashoka Hotel in Delhi to attend the fourth meeting of INDIA alliance.
02:51 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the PDP, has arrived in Delhi ahead of the INDIA Alliance meeting.
02:35 PM, 19 DEC, 2023
Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Delhi ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting.
Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray were also present.