New Delhi: After weeks of intense deliberation among the parties, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has been named as the chairperson of the opposition INDIA bloc during its virtual meeting here on Saturday.
The decision was taken at the virtual meeting of the top leaders on Saturday. INDIA bloc is yet to make an official announcement.
Although Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was also picked as the convener, Kumar turned down the top post saying someone from the Congress party should take up the responsibility.
INDIA or 'Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance' is a group of opposition parties, including the Congress, that have come together to take on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and prevent it from winning a third straight term at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Except for Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, today's meeting was attended by representatives from all parties.
The virtual meeting of INDIA bloc leaders began in the afternoon to review the seat-sharing agenda, participation in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and other pressing issues related to the alliance.
While Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar attended the meeting via video conferencing in Mumbai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin and party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi attended the meeting via video conferencing in Chennai.
Several leaders attending the meeting stressed the importance of ensuring unity at the national level and not allowing state-level rifts to disturb the alliance.