Mumbai: The stage is set for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’s (INDIA) third meeting beginning Thursday in which representatives from 28 political parties will discuss seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha election, a common minimum programme, a coordinating committee and regional dynamics.
The two-day Mumbai meeting will be crucial as the newly minted opposition alliance will discuss the role of regional parties, especially in the backdrop of the recent split in the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The opposition bloc will also unveil its logo which will help the constituent parties to connect with the electorate.
“I have full faith that an alternative forum will be created in the country, which will become strong for the changes that have to be made in the country. And we will do the same thing,” NCP president Sharad Pawar said at a joint press briefing with Maha Vikas Aghadi partners — the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the NCP’s Sharad Pawar faction.
Sixty-three delegates from 28 parties will be attending the meet, he said.
“Regional equations will also have to be taken care of. Also those who are not a part of the INDIA bloc yet, but are against the BJP, we will have to weigh our options and need to look at the regional dynamics,” Pawar added.
At the press meet, Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) asserted that the bloc has a common objective of protecting democracy. “We have many choices for PM candidates. But what choice does the BJP have, except one,” he said, taking a swipe at PM Narendra Modi.
“The Centre has slashed LPG prices by Rs 200 and this is because of our meeting. In the last nine years, they didn’t remember to gift sisters on Raksha Bandhan but since our meeting is happening, they are pressured to reduce the prices,” Thackeray said.
On Thursday evening, the opposition alliance will unveil the INDIA logo followed by the dinner hosted by Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray. The next day, the leaders will meet in the morning to discuss their agenda, including the line of campaign for the Lok Sabha election.
“The seat-sharing formula will have to be discussed on the regional-level as well as national-level. It has to be done carefully taking into consideration the state-wise conditions,” a Shiv Sena (UBT) insider told ThePrint.
“Besides, we also need to decide if we are going ahead with one single coordination committee or not, and, if so, who will lead it and what will be the structure of this committee. All of this is a part of the agenda.”
In the backdrop of the splits in the Shiv Sena and the NCP, the delegates will also discuss the issues of various regional parties and how the BJP is targeting them in various states.
“We would want this to be the last such meeting and, henceforth, the alliance partners should start taking action in their respective states and launch an aggressive campaign against the BJP,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader mentioned above said.
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MVA leaders go extra mile
On Tuesday, the MVA leaders held a separate meeting at Mumbai’s Grand Hyatt, which is also the venue for the INDIA bloc event.
Till late into the evening, they discussed various aspects of the coordination amongst themselves. From receiving the leaders at the airport to their travel and accommodation plan, the MVA parties have shared responsibilities and divided the tasks among themselves.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut is in charge of the overall arrangement and handling the war room which will look after the security of leaders, overseeing the logistical issues among others.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) is responsible for the travel and hotel booking for the guests, which include the chief ministers of various states as well as top national leaders. The Congress is taking care of the accommodation of the VIP guests.
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction will look after travel needs of senior leaders from the airport and back. Mumbai Congress leaders have also pitched in to share the responsibility.
The dinner on the first day will be hosted by Uddhav Thackeray, and the Sena insiders say it will have special Maharashtrian dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian.
Congress leaders are hosting the lunch the next day. Leader of Opposition and Congress senior leader Vijay Wadettiwar and NCP leaders are making sure that the government departments are kept on board with the security and other arrangements.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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