Nearly 30 opposition parties have gathered in Bengaluru to form the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), aimed at strategizing against the BJP-led NDA government. The Congress party led the opposition meeting, and INDIA, along with Congress, will contest the 2024 elections. In order to avoid vote splitting, the alliance has chosen a “one against one” strategy in which just one INDIA-based candidate will compete against the BJP and its partners.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the Congress, emphasised throughout the meeting that the party’s goal is to overthrow the BJP government in Delhi rather than running for prime minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that all of the country’s purportedly dynastic and corrupt parties have come together to overthrow the BJP in reaction to the opposition’s gathering.
Notably, political parties from the Telugu states did not participate in the opposition meeting. The BRS, TDP, YCP, and Jana Sena chose to abstain. While the BRS remains uninterested in aligning with either the BJP or Congress, the TDP, YCP, and Jana Sena lean towards the BJP.
The non-participation of parties from the Telugu states adds an interesting dimension to the opposition alliance, raising questions about the potential political dynamics in the region. As the 2024 elections approach, the formation of INDIA presents a new challenge for the BJP-led NDA alliance, while the absence of Telugu parties indicates a varied political landscape in the region.