The opposition’s INDIA alliance will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election “together as far as possible”

• “Will Contest Together as Far as Possible”: INDIA Bloc Amid Differences 
• The opposition’s INDIA alliance will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election “together as far as possible”, the bloc said. 
• On the final day of its meeting in Mumbai, a resolution that raises questions about how viable electoral unity may be. 
• The parties also resolved to “coordinate respective communications and media strategies and campaigns with the theme “Judega Bharat, Jiteega India” in different languages. 
• Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal, as well as the Samajwadi Party from Uttar Pradesh, backed the inclusion of caste census in the resolution. 
• Sources told the media that four other committees are being planned, apart from the “coordination committee”. 
• After three INDIA meetings, what is perhaps commendable is that the opposition, in this case, the BJP hasn’t really been able to break the bloc apart, so far. 

The opposition’s INDIA alliance will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election “together as far as possible”, the bloc said Friday, the final day of its meeting in Mumbai. The wording of the INDIA alliance’s resolution, however, has raised eyebrows and spawned questions, specifically of the kind the grouping was meant to answer – just how united is the opposition as it bids to prevent Prime Minister Narendra Modi from claiming an unprecedented third term.

The parties also resolved to “coordinate respective communications and media strategies and campaigns with the theme “Judega Bharat, Jiteega India” in different languages. The resolution after INDIA’s third meeting also refers to possible seat-sharing arrangements, but in equally tentative language, noting these will be “initiated immediately and concluded in a collaborative spirit of give-and-take”.

Another moment of apparent discord was struck by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who opposed the political resolution because it included calls for a caste-based census. Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal, as well as the Samajwadi Party from Uttar Pradesh, backed the inclusion of caste census in the resolution. There was also talk of a logo but that hasn’t yet been revealed, and neither has there been clarity on a joint schedule ahead of the 2024 election, which is now less than a year away.

In more positive news though, the alliance has announced a 13-member cross-party “coordination committee” that will help work out issues and challenges like a possible Common Minimum Programme and the thorny problem of seat-sharing across the country.

Sources told the media that four other committees are being planned, apart from the “coordination committee”, to help plan campaigns and rallies, handle social media, and manage data. Sources also spoke of “action” on October 2 – Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary – in Delhi.

The “coordination committee” will be INDIA’s highest decision-making body, and will include representatives from Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Shiv Sena UBT, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (United), National Conference, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist), and People’s Democratic Party.

After three INDIA meetings, what is perhaps commendable is that the opposition, in this case the BJP hasn’t really been able to break the bloc apart, so far. Also commendable is the united front when dealing with the press, including potentially tricky areas like seat-sharing.

The meeting has been talked up over the past days, with JD(U) boss and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar seen as the driving force behind this effort at unity – calling on his colleagues to fight the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s “surprise element strategy and gimmicks”.

INDIA’s third meeting takes place after the center’s surprise call for a special session of Parliament between September 18 and 22. The agenda for this session is not yet known but there is speculation it could focus on the BJP’s controversial “one nation, one election” call.

(With inputs from agencies)