INDIA alliance shifts into election mode

Bloc initiates urgent talks on seat-sharing for national elections

- Saubhadra Chatterji

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a coalition of 28 opposition parties, shifted into election mode on Friday, initiating urgent talks on seat-sharing arrangements, key panels and a public campaign next month. The alliance is attempting to wrest back political momentum from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, which sparked furious speculation with the surprise declaration of a special session of Parliament in the third week of September.

A day after the government’s decision of the 18-22 September session sparked a buzz of a legislative move on simultaneous state and national elections, women’s reservations or big-bang announcements, the INDIA group tried to get battle-ready, forming five panels, including a 14-member coordination and election strategy committee, and deciding to campaign together for the 2024 elections.

But thorny issues loomed large over the bloc, which didn’t name a convener or unveil a logo—an issue that triggered some disquiet among constituents. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s early departure from a meeting sparked speculation about differences, but Trinamool Congress party members claimed it was only due to scheduling issues.