After push from non-Congress parties at Mumbai meet, INDIA resolves to ‘expedite’ seat-sharing talks

The meeting also saw discussion on holding caste-based census such as the one in Bihar in other states. But there was no consensus on the subject, it is learnt.

Opposition leaders at the Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai Friday | ANI

New Delhi: The third meeting of the Opposition’s INDIA alliance Friday saw a clutch of non-Congress Opposition parties make a strong pitch for talks on seat-sharing ahead of the next round of assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Rajasthan, ThePrint has learnt. 

This push for quick seat-sharing talks led to the alliance adopting a resolution resolving “to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections together as far as possible.”

“Seat-sharing arrangements in different states will be initiated immediately and concluded at the earliest in a collaborative spirit of give-and-take,” the resolution stated. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) proposed completion of seat sharing talks by 30 September, at least two more parties suggested 15 October as the date.

But, unlike some other constituents of the INDIA alliance, the Congress was not very enthused with the idea, a leader present in the meeting told ThePrint.

“The Trinamool Congress (TMC) proposed that seat-sharing talks be expedited and wrapped up by mid-October. Parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal (United) also supported the idea but they did not insist on any date,” the leader said.

This is the third such Opposition alliance meeting in the last three months. The previous meetings were held in Patna in June and Bengaluru in July.  

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had also proposed seat-sharing be taken up at the earliest during the informal talks of the alliance held Thursday.  

While a coordination committee specifically focused on seat-sharing was not constituted at the meeting, it formed panels on election strategy, campaign, media, social media, and research. 

Working out a seat-sharing formula is proving to be particularly difficult for the alliance due to its inherent contradictions. For example, in the bypolls to three — of seven seats in the upcoming 5 September bypolls, constituent parties of the alliance are locked in a fight not just with the BJP, but also among themselves. 

Discussion on seat-sharing, caste census — what parties spoke about

According to leaders present at the meeting, the coordination committee on election strategy will also work on seat-sharing. The prominent faces in the 14-member committee include Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M.K. Stalin, Jharkhand CM and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Hemant Soren, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. 

While the leaders did not officially announce the venue of the next meeting of the alliance, two leaders who attended the Mumbai meeting said that the Congress proposed Bhopal and Hyderabad as the possible venues. 

But there was no consensus on this, with Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury pointing out that it would not be a good idea to hold it in a state like poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, where the AAP is also making a push to make some dent. 

The alliance leaders have also agreed to gather in Delhi on 2 October to mark Gandhi Jayanti. 

“The idea is to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. A vision document spelling out the broad objectives of the alliance is also likely to be launched on that day,” a leader who didn’t want to be named told ThePrint. 

The meeting also saw discussions on the caste-based census, which is currently ongoing in Bihar. One source present at the meeting said that while a caste census suits parties such as the RJD and JD (U), it could backfire on some others — particularly if the BJP gives it a communal colour in states like West Bengal.

“Our point was that some parties need it more than others,” said one leader.

Meanwhile, at last three leaders ThePrint spoke to insisted that the meeting saw no deliberations on appointing a convenor, which is among the challenges confronting the coalition as it seeks to take on the BJP in the 2024 General Election. 

(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)