INDIA leaders have met formally on other occasions as well as at key moments during Parliament sessions, but Monday’s meeting is the first major gathering after 1 June, 2024, just before the last general elections.
The meeting, largely focused on the plan of action for the next election cycle—with polls in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Manipur and Goa scheduled for next year—that culminates in the Lok Sabha elections of 2029, has already made the news for the wrong reasons.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is missing because the Congress has become part of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led ruling structure in of Tamil Nadu; the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has kept away, citing the “backstabbing” of the DMK, and what it calls the “anti-youth” nature of the Congress.
Another constituent, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is upset with the Congress over seat-sharing in the Rajya Sabha elections from the young state, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has sent an angry missive to the Congress over its conduct in Kerala’s recent Assembly polls. Rajya Sabha member John Brittas will represent the CPI(M) at the meet, and is likely to raise the issue.
Also ramping up the political temperature in the capital, posters highlighting criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by leaders of other INDIA bloc parties had come up before the meeting got underway.
#WATCH | Ahead of today’s INDIA bloc meeting, posters targeting Congress and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi appeared on multiple roundabouts in Delhi.
The posters highlight statements by opposition leaders, including NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, DMK leader… pic.twitter.com/NCA4X9dwgn
— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2026
The INDIA meet does, however, feature a galaxy of Opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and Omar Abdullah. “Meeting with a common purpose and clear intent. INDIA united. Many parties look forward to meeting in the spirit of camaraderie,” Trinamool legislator Derek O’Brien said before Monday’s meet.
Opening Remarks of @INCIndia President Shri Mallikarjun @kharge ji at the meeting of INDIA janbandhan on June 8, 2026
दोस्तों:
मैं INDIA समूह के नेताओं की इस बैठक में आप सभी का स्वागत करता हूं। यह समूह लगभग ठीक तीन साल पहले अस्तित्व में आया था। मैं ज्यादा नहीं बोलना चाहता,…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 8, 2026
Setting the stage as the meet began, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that rising prices are impacting ordinary citizens, also criticising the government over recent examination paper leaks and alleging discriminatory treatment of non-BJP state governments.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)