South Asia

Indian opposition parties form ‘INDIA' alliance for next election

Update: 14:23, 19 July 2023

Over two dozen opposition parties in India announced on Tuesday the formation of an alliance called 'INDIA' with the aim of challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming parliamentary elections next year.

In a joint statement, the alliance expressed concerns about the BJP's assault on the principles of the republic and declared their commitment to 'protecting the essence of India as enshrined in the Constitution.'
The alliance's first demonstration of a shared political and economic agenda came in the form of a focus on combating the issues of rising prices and unemployment.
The decision to name the alliance INDIA is viewed as a deliberate move to counter the BJP's nationalist platform in the forthcoming elections scheduled for May 2024.
Prime Minister Modi and the BJP criticized the members of the alliance as opportunists and accused them of corruption, alleging that they had tarnished India's reputation globally but were now attempting to preserve their own existence and that of their families.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the main opposition party, the Congress party, explained that INDIA stands for 'Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.'
Kharge stated, 'Our primary objective is to stand united to safeguard democracy and the constitution.' He made these remarks to reporters at the conclusion of a two-day meeting involving 26 opposition parties in Bengaluru.
This gathering marked their second meeting in a month as they seek to establish a platform ahead of the elections, although the BJP remains the frontrunner to win.
While these parties have often been regional rivals and fragmented at the national level, they have set aside their differences in an attempt to challenge the BJP following the conviction and disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, in a defamation case in March.
Rahul Gandhi, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, emphasized that the fight against the BJP is a battle to 'defend the idea of India and uphold the voice of the Indian people.' The statement released by INDIA also emphasized the importance of building a robust economy and addressing what they referred to as the BJP's persecution of Indians.