INDIA bloc presents impressive show of unity, 23 opposition parties participate in meeting

NEW DELHI, June 8: In an overwhelmingly impressive show of unity, leaders of 23 opposition parties today attended the meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) here today.

Later briefing reporters in presence of the senior alliance leaders, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the meeting unanimously agreed on five broad points, which will be taken up immediately. He said that the INDIA bloc leaders decided to jointly write to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) over issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, vote manipulation and the “stealing of elections”. The leaders agreed that the letter would be delivered to the CJI very soon, seeking intervention on concerns raised by member parties regarding the electoral process.

Kharge disclosed that the alliance also unanimously resolved to demand the immediate resignation of the Union Education Minister, holding him responsible for betrayal of lakhs of students who appeared for the NEET and CBSE examinations. Opposition leaders noted that the handling of examination-related issues had adversely affected the interests of students and their families.

The INDIA bloc also called upon the Union government to convene an all-party meeting at the earliest to deliberate on the precarious current economic situation, unemployment, price rise, issues concerning farmers and other people-centric matters, such as atrocities against marginalised sections, which require urgent policy intervention.

The Congress president said that the opposition parties further unanimously decided to institutionalise regular consultations within the alliance. Leaders agreed that INDIA bloc meetings would be held once every two months, with the next gathering scheduled to take place in Hyderabad in August, he added.

Kharge also said that to strengthen coordination during Parliament proceedings, the alliance decided to continue its parliamentary strategy meetings throughout the upcoming Monsoon Session. Daily morning coordination meetings will be held at the office of the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, to ensure a unified approach on key legislative and political issues.

Earlier in his opening remarks to the meeting, Kharge called for greater unity among constituents of the INDIA bloc, urging opposition parties to intensify their collective efforts against political, economic, social and foreign policy challenges confronting the country under the Narendra Modi-led government. He said the opposition grouping had demonstrated its strength and cohesion in Parliament on April 17, 2026, when it united to oppose and defeat the Centre’s proposed delimitation-related legislation in the Lok Sabha. He said the alliance should build on that success and continue working in close coordination in the months ahead.

Kharge noted that millions of people were being deprived of their voting rights through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and remarked that attacks on the Constitution were continuing. He also accused the Centre of misusing investigative agencies against political opponents and discriminating against states ruled by non-BJP parties.

Raising economic concerns, the Congress chief said prices of essential commodities remained high and described the overall economic climate as unfavourable. He alleged that investment inflows were insufficient to generate adequate employment opportunities and warned that the growth of private monopolies across sectors could adversely affect micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Referring to issues concerning the youth, he said repeated irregularities and mismanagement in examination systems had undermined the aspirations of students and job seekers. He also observed that atrocities against weaker sections continued in several BJP-ruled states.

On foreign policy, Kharge pointed out that India’s diplomatic standing had weakened and asserted that the country was no longer adhering to the principles and values it had traditionally championed internationally.

Among those who attended today’s meeting were Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh from the Congress; Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee and Derek O`Brien from the AITC; Tejashwi Yadav and Sanjay Yadav from RJD; Supriya Sule from NCP (SP); Uddhav Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut (all online) from SS(UBT); John Brittas from CPI(M); D. Raja and P Santhosh Kumar from CPI; Akhilesh Yadav and Mohibbullah Nadvi from SP; Omar Abdullah and Shami Oberoi from JKNC; Dipankar Bhattacharya and Ravi Kumar from CPI(ML); Hemant Soren (online) from JMM; Sadiq Thangal and Kunhalikutty from IUML; Jose K. Mani from KC(M); Vaiko from MDMK; Thirumavalavan and Ravi Kumar from VCK, N. K. Premchandran from RSP; Francis George from Kerala Congress (Joseph); G. Devarajan from All India Forward Bloc; Ms Mehbooba Mufti from PDP; Rajkumar Roat from BAP; Jayant Patil from Peasants and Workers Party of India; Sunil Singh from Lok Dal; and Kapil Sibal, an independent MP.