New Delhi [India], December 19 (ANI): The fourth meeting of the Opposition’s ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc concluded in the national capital today with the passing the resolution on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the suspension of MPs from Parliament.
The meeting also took place amid escalating political tensions between the Opposition and the BJP-led central government, triggered by the demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the recent Parliament security breach.
“INDIA parties reiterate that there are many doubts on the integrity of the functioning of the EVMs. These have been raised by many experts and professionals as well. There is widespread demand for a return to the ballot paper system,” it said. It suggested that “Instead of the VVPAT slip falling in the box, it should be handed over to the voter who shall then place it in a separate ballot box after having verified his or her choice. 100 per cent counting of VVPAT slips should then be done. It further said that this will restore full confidence of the people in free and fair elections.
The 28 parties participated in our fourth meeting and kept their thoughts before the committee of the alliance. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that a resolution have been passed that suspension of MPs is undemocratic. “We have passed a resolution that suspension is undemocratic. We will all have to fight to save democracy and all of us are ready to do that. We raised the issue of security breach in the Parliament. We have been saying for a long time that Union HM Amit Shah or PM Modi should come to the Parliament and speak in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha about the issue of Parliament security breach, but they are refusing to do so,” Kharge said.
As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections loom just four months away, the allocation of seats becomes pivotal for the Congress, especially after recent electoral setbacks. Meanwhile, the opposition alliance has not reached a consensus on the bloc’s prime ministerial candidate. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that any decision on the prime ministerial candidate would be made after the elections.
“First, all of us have to win, we should think about what needs to be done for victory. Who will be PM, this will be decided later. If there are less MPs, what is the point of talking about PM. First, to increase our numbers, (by) coming together, we will try to bring majority. First we will try to win,” he said.
RJD MP Manoj Jha said that everyone agreed that a decision on seat-sharing and mass contact should be made within three weeks.
“Everyone agreed that a decision on seat-sharing and mass contact should be made within three weeks… It was decided that we have to ensure a maximum 101 program… Thirdly, it was emphasised especially by Tejashwi Yadav, that PM Modi does pointless politics. We have to identify 5 issues to which the people can relate. Whether it is employment issues, pensions, health… I think the achievement of this meeting is that the issue should be decided, a mass contact program should be started, and seat sharing within three weeks at a state level should be ensured,” Manoj Jha said.
“Discussions were held clearly. Seat-sharing, mass contact program – all of these will begin within 20 days…All decisions will be taken within 3 weeks,” Jha said. After the INDIA Alliance meeting, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that on EVM issue a proposal was passed. “Yes, it (EVM issue) was discussed. A proposal was passed…We will raise the matter before EC,” he added.
Congress MP and general secretary KC Venugopal termed the meeting successful and fruitful
“It was a very successful, fruitful meeting. Everybody opened their mind and spoke, there was a little criticism here and there because we are 25-26 parties. The main focus was to finalise the seat sharing. A lot many things were discussed but everything can not be decided today itself. Seat-sharing discussions should be started immediately, that is what was discussed,” Venugopal said.
Moreover, CPI General Secretary D Raja said that in the meeting it has been decided that first we will take up the issue of suspension of MPs because it is an onslaught on our democracy, it is an attack on our parliamentary system. “There was a reference to the common minimum program. Now, it has been decided first to take up the issue of suspension of MPs because it is an onslaught on our democracy, it is an attack on our parliamentary system. So there should be protests across the country and the call has been given for a mass protest… Nothing (on the PM candidate)… We have given a call for mass protest across the country in all state headquarters on 22nd (December)… We should conclude the seat-sharing arrangement as early as possible, and we’ll have to put up a strong collective fight against BJP,” D Raja said.
RLD national president Jayant Chaudhary said that, “all the decisions are taken with everyone’s agreement. Whatever has been agreed upon by everyone will be announced in the press conference…”
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that the campaigning, seat sharing and everything will begin soon
“The meeting was good. The campaigning, seat sharing and everything will begin soon. No (convenor hasn’t been selected) yet,” Kejriwal said.
JMM MP Mahua Maji said that the main discussion was regarding seat sharing. “The main discussion was regarding seat sharing. Some leaders wanted to have the seat sharing before 1st January. Discussions regarding the face of the Prime Minister were also done. No final decision was taken…Everyone said that PM’s face will be decided after winning the elections,” Maji said.
On asking if the BSP should also be a part of the INDIA Alliance, Party MP Shyam Singh Yadav said that the party should also join the INDIA Alliance.
“If you ask me, I will say very frankly, very clearly and very unambiguously that my party should also join the INDIA Alliance. This is my personal opinion. But the BSP supremo will do what she thinks, we are bound by her decision… It is my personal opinion that the BSP should be a part of the INDIA Alliance… There is no doubt that if all the parties contest together, we will be able to give a good fight (in Uttar Pradesh),” Yadav asserted.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi reacted on seat distribution of INDIA alliance an said that whatever happened in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, everyone is aware of that. “Whatever happened in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, everyone is aware of that. What Akhilesh Yadav spoke about Kamal Nath and what Arvind Kejriwal spoke about Congress government in Chhattisgarh, everyone knows,’ Joshi said.
On being asked about the Prime Minister’s face of the INDIA alliance, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that “there is no question that they (INDIA alliance) are going to win the elections, so there is no point of discussing this.”
On suspension of Opposition MPs discussed at INDIA Alliance meeting, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that the meeting is nothing but a photo session. “This was nothing but the fourth meeting of the photo session. Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar were not even present at the photo session, they boycotted it. What will become of that INDI Alliance? It is a total failure. They just eat, get photos clicked and leave…” On mimicry of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, he says, “…Does this happen anywhere in Parliamentary system? Do they think this is a joke?” he added.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that the government is ready for discussion on the incident at the Parliament. “You say that your voices are being stifled. You too are doing the same. We are ready for discussion on the incident at the Parliament. It has nothing to do with the government…But Opposition is creating a ruckus every day. So, they have been suspended,” Athawale said.
Meanwhile, on the reports of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee proposing the name of Congress chief Mallilkarjun Kharge as the PM face of the INDIA Alliance, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said that to take Congress forward, they did some experiments in the past and they succeeded in it.
“To take Congress forward, they did some experiments in the past and they succeeded in it. Whether they made PV Narasimha Rao or Manmohan Singh the PM. PV Narasimha Rao remained PM for 5 years, and Manmohan Singh was the PM for 10 years. But as soon as Sonia Gandhi put forward Rahul Gandhi, after 2009 everyone has forgotten everything. If he (Mallikarjun Kharge) has come back to strengthen the Congress again then it is a good thing. I will ask my Leader of Opposition too that if they want to keep the Congress alive in Haryana, then they should bring someone else, if they keep following Deepender (Hooda), then the situation here would also be like it is there (Delhi),” Khattar said.
An unprecedented 141 MPs have been suspended in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for “misconduct”, most of them for the remainder of the winter session which concludes on December 22. INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) parties are seeking to put a united challenge against the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The first meeting of the joint opposition convened in Patna on June 23 and the second meeting was held in Bengaluru on July 17-18. The third meeting happened in Mumbai on August 31-September 1. In the Mumbai meeting, the opposition parties adopted resolutions to collectively contest the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections while announcing that seat-sharing arrangements would be finalized as soon as possible in a spirit of give-and-take. (ANI)
