INDIA Alliance Delhi meeting HIGHLIGHTS:The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc’s fourth meeting concluded at the Ashok Hotel in New Delhi with deliberations on leadership, the suspension of Opposition MPs from parliament and a strategy on campaigning and seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The meeting in Delhi came just days after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the recently concluded Assembly polls in three Hindi heartland states.
The meeting, attended by 28 Opposition parties, also saw a discussion on the prime ministerial face of the alliance. It is learnt that Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal proposed the name of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the PM face of the alliance. The suggestion was, however, downplayed by Kharge who said that the issue can be resolved after the alliance emerges victorious. Besides Kharge, Mamata and Kejriwal, Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin were among several senior leaders who attended the meeting.
Live Updates
INDIA bloc meeting HIGHLIGHTS: Meeting ends, PM face discussed
18:14 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc meeting : Mamata Banerjee proposes Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge as PM face
According to sources, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has proposed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the PM face for the upcoming Lokok Sabha elections .
18:10 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 India Bloc Live Updates: Uddhav Thackeray moots appointment of INDIA coordinator
While addressing a press, ahead of the INDIA Bloc meeting, Uddhav Thackeray, the president of Shiv Sena (UBT), highlighted the importance of appointing a coordinator to lead the Opposition front. He mentioned the need for a figure akin to George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav, who served as coordinators for their respective fronts, while simultaneously dismissing any rumours of discord among member parties.
“The coordinator would be a face for the INDIA front. It is necessary as every leader representing the front is busy with challenges in their states. The coordinator will ensure proper coordination and schedule,” he said.
17:47 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Live Updates: Alliance condems MPs suspension
According to sources, the suspension of opposition MPs from both houses was taken up for discussion and condemned.
17:26 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Live Updates: Congress forms a five member National Alliance Committee
Given the upcoming Lok Sabha polls 2024, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, constituted a National Alliance Committee, the names of the members of the committee are as follows:
1. Ashok Gehlot
2. Bhupesh Baghel
3. Mukul Wasnik- Convenor
4. Salman Khurshid
5. Mohan Prakash
17:00 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Live Updates: ‘Alternative needed to save democracy’ asserts D Raja
CPI General Secretary D Raja commented on the INDIA bloc meeting which is currently underway, he said, “In order to save democracy and the Constitution, an alternative is needed. That alternative would be provided by the INDIA Bloc. This meeting is important. We will work out a strategy in order to fight collectively and defeat the BJP.”
#WATCH | INDIA Alliance Meeting | Delhi: CPI General Secretary D Raja says, "This is a very significant meeting because the country is in multiple crises. Look at the way the Parliament is allowed to function. In order to save democracy and the Constitution, an alternative is… pic.twitter.com/cK4LzvVUUZ
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
16:22 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA bloc Live Updates: Meeting underway, Rajya Sabha adjourned till 5 pm
The INDIA bloc meeting is currently underway in the presence of Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 5 pm amid uproar from the opposition.
15:57 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 India Bloc Meeting Live Updates: Uddhav Thackeray meets Mamata Banerjee
Earlier in the afternoon, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, in the presence of TMC’ Abhishek Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi.
#WATCH | Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, this afternoon.
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi were also present.
(Source: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant's… pic.twitter.com/0JxC3O3AwR
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
15:46 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Meeting Live Updates: Meeting currently underway!
Visuals from the fourth meeting of the INDIA alliance, held at the Hotel Ashok in Delhi.
Visuals of the fourth meeting of INDIA alliance being held at Hotel Ashoka in Delhi. #INDIAAlliance pic.twitter.com/x8d6vZnjs6
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
15:31 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meet Live Updates : Meeting begins!
The INDIA Bloc meeting has commenced and is currently underway at the Ashok Hotel, New Delhi
#WATCH | Meeting of the INDIA Alliance to begin shortly, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Xz90xGI4u1
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
15:29 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Live Updates: NCP senior leader Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule arrives
NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule arrived at Ashoka Hotel in Delhi to attend the fourth meeting of INDIA alliance.
VIDEO | NCP (Pawar) leaders Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule arrive at Ashoka Hotel in Delhi to attend the fourth meeting of INDIA alliance. #INDIAAlliance pic.twitter.com/rceuEZjY6J
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
15:26 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Live Updates: Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann arrives
Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM and AAP national convener, and Bhagwant Mann, party leader and Punjab CM, arrived at the location for the INDIA Bloc meeting.
#WATCH | Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal & party leader and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann arrive for the INDIA Alliance meeting. pic.twitter.com/mJHFZAqHCG
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
15:23 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA alliance meeting Live Updates : Bihar CM Nitish Kumar arrives
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar arrived for the INDIA Alliance meeting, in Delhi.
#WATCH | Bihar CM Nitish Kumar arrives for the INDIA Alliance meeting, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Wf0hL0thB1
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
15:18 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Live Updates : Congress’ Sonia Gandhi arrives along Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, and Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, arrived in Delhi for the INDIA bloc meeting .
#WATCH | Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee arrive for the INDIA Alliance meeting, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/B6pb55NbPM
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
15:10 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Live : Lalu Parsad Yadav and his son departs for Hotel Ashok
RJD’s chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with his son and Bihar’s Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav departs for the Ashok Hotel to attend the INDIA alliance meeting held in Delhi today.
VIDEO | RJD chief Lalu Prasad, along with his son and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, leaves for Hotel Ashoka in Delhi to attend INDIA bloc meeting. pic.twitter.com/8lilNVXVlW
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
15:06 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meet Live Updates: Mamata Banerjee arrives at the Ashok Hotel
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee seen at the Ashok Hotel as she arrives to attend the fourth meeting of the INDIA alliance.
VIDEO | West Bengal CM @MamataOfficial arrives at Ashok Hotel in Delhi to attend the fourth meeting of INDIA alliance. pic.twitter.com/29Y2SOBVdz
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
15:03 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Live: JKPDP chief Mehbooba Mufti arrives
JKPDP chief Mehbooba Mufti arrived to take part in INDIA Bloc meeting in New Delhi.
VIDEO | JKPDP chief @MehboobaMufti arrives in Delhi to take part in INDIA bloc meeting. pic.twitter.com/dwxBV87yW4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
15:00 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 India Bloc Live Updates: Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav arrives
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and party leader Ramgopal Yadav arrived at Ashok Hotel in Delhi to attend the INDIA alliance meeting.
13:42 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meeting Today Live : ‘Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav have less relevance’ says BJP’s Union minister
Union minister, Nityanand Rai gave a hard-hitting comment on Bihar’s Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav. Commenting on the importance of the two in the political landscape of India, he stated, “Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad have little relevance left in country’s politics. Everyone is aware about Nitish Kumar, he has handed over Bihar to criminals,” he said.
VIDEO | "Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad have little relevance left in country's politics. Everyone is aware about Nitish Kumar, he has handed over Bihar to criminals," says Union minister @nityanandraibjp. pic.twitter.com/Hl4xfFncfr
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
13:29 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA bloc meet in Delhi Live: Akilesh Yadav reacts on MPs suspension
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a jab at the opposition for the suspension of MPs in parliament asserting, “How will they now call it (the Parliament) a temple of democracy when the opposition is thrown out in such a manner?.”
VIDEO | "How will they now call it (the Parliament) a temple of democracy, when the opposition is thrown out in such a manner?" says Samajwadi Party chief @yadavakhilesh on suspension of MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/jpwVnN9b8z
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
13:21 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meet Live Updates: Posters displayed in Patna hailing Nitish kumar as next PM face
Posters displayed in Patna, Bihar advocated for Nitish Kumar to be nominated as the prime ministerial face of the alliance prior to the INDIA bloc’s gathering in Delhi today.
VIDEO | Posters put up in Patna, Bihar demanding Nitish Kumar be made the PM face of the alliance ahead of INDIA bloc's meeting in Delhi today. pic.twitter.com/OmXrIwRXFT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
13:00 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc meeting today Live: BJP’s union minister alleges ‘internal bickerging’ between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav
As the INDIA bloc’s fourth meeting is set to commence in a few hours, Union minister Shandilya Giriraj Singh hinted at internal friction between Bihar’s CM Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad Yadav. He said, “There is internal bickering going on between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad. He humiliated women while speaking in the Assembly.”
VIDEO | "There is internal bickering going on between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad. He humiliated women while speaking in the Assembly," says Union minister @girirajsinghbjp.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/Sv1ziKHu3S
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
12:46 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Live Updates: ‘Black day in India’s democracy’ affirms AAP’s Raghav Chadha
Speaking on the suspension of MPs, AAP MP Raghav Chadha stated it as a ‘black day in India‘s democracy’ he stated, “I would not say that some MPs were suspended but democracy has been suspended…” Chadha said.
12:07 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Live Updates : ‘Nitish Kumar will be rejected by Bihar people’ says Nityanand Rai
Ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, posters featuring Bihar CM Nitish Kumar were displayed in Patna. Union Minister Nityanand Rai commented that they are unable to manage the situation in Bihar; law and order, as well as the state’s development, have significantly deteriorated. He said ,“ Whatever development is happening in the state is because of the policies of the Narendra Modi government. Nitish Kumar will be rejected by the people of Bihar.”
#WATCH | On Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's posters put up in Patna ahead of INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, Union Minister Nityanand Rai says, “They cannot even handle the situation in Bihar, the situation of law & order and development in the state has gone for a toss. Whatever… pic.twitter.com/r9HAHBnF1M
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
11:39 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meet Today Live : ‘Important issues to be discussed in meet today’ affirms Uddhav Thackrey
“In today’s meeting, we will discuss various things. We need a coordinator (of the alliance), it is not necessary that the coordinator will go on to lead the alliance, but it is important to have one,” said Uddhav Thackeray ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled to take place later in the noon.
VIDEO | "In today's meeting, we will discuss various things. We need a coordinator (of the alliance), it is not necessary that the coordinator will go on to lead the alliance, but it is important to have one," says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader @ShivSenaUBT_ ahead of INDIA bloc meeting… pic.twitter.com/LJcmy9yR7A
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
11:24 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 Opposition Alliance Meet today : Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin to meet PM Modi tonight
Upon the scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi today, MK Stalin asserted, “Tonight, PM Modi has allocated time to meet with me. After explaining the situation to him, I will be visiting Tirunelveli & Thoothukudi tomorrow.”
Delhi | Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin says, "Tonight PM Modi has given time to meet him. After explaining the situation to him, I will be visiting Tirunelveli & Thoothukudi tomorrow" pic.twitter.com/trTRnP5sCB
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
11:19 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc meet live : leaders meet Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament
The floor leaders from the INDIA alliance parties gathered at the Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber within the Parliament ahead of the INDIA bloc meet set to commence today at 3 pm.
#WATCH | Floor leaders of INDIA alliance parties meet in the chamber of Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament pic.twitter.com/nB9c7qNGD5
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
11:05 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc meeting today: Delhi minister reacts on ED’s fresh summons to CM Arvind Kejriwal
On fresh summons issued to Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “We are also amazed why the summon was sent asking him to appear on December 21. Our legal team is studying the summon and will respond accordingly.”
VIDEO | "The program that the CM will leave for his Vipassana course on December 19 – was in the public domain since last one month. We are also amazed why the summon was sent asking him to appear on December 21. Our legal team is studying the summon and will respond… pic.twitter.com/pK2DKRQLok
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2023
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is set to leave for his Vipassana course today, after attending the INDIA meeting.
10:58 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc meet live: AAP ‘s Arvind Kejriwal, Raghav Chadha meets MK Stalin
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, along with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha at Tamil Nadu Bhavan.
Delhi | AAP convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal meets Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin at Tamil Nadu Bhavan pic.twitter.com/SjRQZOo0L2
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
10:44 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Meet Today Live: ‘Arvind Kejriwal to make every possible effort for alliance success’ says Atishi
Ahead of the meeting, AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi stated, “In the meeting today important points like seat-sharing and others will be discussed. AAP & Arvind Kejriwal will make every possible effort to make INDIA alliance a success.”
#WATCH | On INDIA bloc meeting today, AAP leader & Delhi Minister Atishi says, "In the meeting today important points like like seat-sharing and others will be discussed. AAP & Arvind Kejriwal will make every possible effort to make INDIA alliance a success." pic.twitter.com/6i3Jp2zsLc
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
10:39 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA bloc Meeting Live Updates: Delhi CM meets Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrived at Tamil Nadu Bhawan to greet CM MK Stalin ahead of the INDIA alliance meeting today in New Delhi.
#WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrives at Tamil Nadu Bhawan to meet CM MK Stalin
He was received by DMK MP TR Baalu on his arrival. pic.twitter.com/YLCALNNGLN
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2023
10:36 (IST) 19 Dec 2023 INDIA Bloc Live Updates: Welcome to live blog!
Welcome to our live blog. Here we will provide you with the latest update on the INDIA bloc meeting set to take place in New Delhi today at around 3 pm. Stay tuned for all the live updates.
Leaders from various opposition parties are grappling with the challenge of formulating an alternative common program to counter the ruling BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Their collective goal is to devise a cohesive strategy to confront the BJP in the upcoming polls, following the suspension of 92 Opposition MPs from both Houses of Parliament. The first INDIA bloc meeting was held in Patna on June 23, followed by sessions in Bengaluru on July 17-18 and Mumbai between August 31 and September 1, where the 27 participating parties adopted resolutions for a united front in the approaching elections.