RAHUL GANDHI SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT OF I.N.D.L.A. WIN

No consensus reached on group's logo; 28-party grouping forms a 13-member coordination panel to chalk out a common minimum programme.

- RAHUL CHHABRA

Overcoming clashing egos, the Opposition’s I.N.D.I.A bloc passed a resolution to contest the next Lok Sabha poll “together”, even as the 28-party grouping formed a 13-member coordination committee to chalk out a common minimum programme amid signs that 450 seats had been identified for fielding only one Opposition candidate against each NDA candidate in the election. While RJD leader Lalu Prasad claimed unanimity on Rahul Gandhi being the face of the bloc, there were also signs of discord at the meeting as Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed a resolution calling for a caste-based census.

The bloc’s inability to arrive at a consensus on a logo for the grouping appeared to be a cause of concern but the Congress-suggested punchline “Judega Bharat, Jeetega Bharat” was approved. Sources said some headway was also made on forming four coordination committees for holding campaign rallies and manage social media.

Rahul Gandhi claimed the “flexibility and rapport” among bloc leaders was improving with each passing day and the constituents of the grouping, which represents 60% of the country’s population, would be able to defeat the BJP.