INDIA meet: Logo, seat sharing the key

New Delhi: As the race for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls hots up, all eyes are on the opposition bloc INDIA's meeting in Mumbai from August 31 to September 1 where a logo of the coalition is likely to be unveiled and strategic issues including seat sharing are expected to be deliberated upon.

There is also talk of the 26-party opposition alliance expanding with some more regional outfits joining it in Mumbai as top leaders in opposition ranks huddle for a two-day conclave starting August 31 in the capital city of Maharashtra where the BJP-Shiv Sena government is in power.

The INDIA bloc's first meeting was held in Patna in June, while the second one took place in Bengaluru in mid-July.

The Bengaluru conclave had finalised the name of the bloc - Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Ahead of the Mumbai meeting, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday said that a few more political parties were likely to join the opposition INDIA bloc during its upcoming meeting.

However, the JD(U) leader, who played an instrumental role in bringing together different parties opposed to the BJP, did not reveal the names of the likely entrants but said that poll-related modalities such as seat-sharing will be discussed at the meeting.

"I wish to unite the maximum number of parties before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. I am working in that direction... I have no desire for myself," he said.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Sanjay Raut had said last week that there is a possibility that new parties from northeast India, will take part in the two-day gathering.

The Rajya Sabha MP had said leaders of the INDIA alliance, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and MPs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, will participate in the third meeting of the bloc in Grand Hyatt, a luxury hotel in suburban Mumbai.

"The INDIA (alliance) logo will be unveiled. Discussions are on for the same. We are trying to reach out to 140 crore Indians. The logo will symbolise the country, unity, and reflect the energy needed to keep the country together," Raut had said. 

4-5 parties that attended NDA meet in touch with INDIA bloc?

Congress spokesperson Alok Sharma on Sunday claimed four to five parties among the 38 that had attended the meeting of BJP-led NDA are in touch with the INDIA alliance and some of them will join the opposition bloc in the coming days.

(PTI)