Opposition INDIA bloc meeting — to forge unity and rework their strategy to take on the BJP — began in New Delhi on June 8, 2026.
Visuals from inside the INDIA bloc meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi showed Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee warmly embracing each other ahead of the start of the opposition alliance’s deliberations.
The interaction came as leaders from across the opposition camp gathered for the key strategy meeting aimed at strengthening coordination among alliance partners.
Kharge attacks Centre over SIR, economy, foreign policy in opening remarks
Opening the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition alliance must strengthen its unity to confront what he described as the Modi government’s misgovernance across political, economic, social and foreign policy fronts.
Kharge recalled the opposition’s joint action in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026, saying the alliance had demonstrated its strength by defeating the Centre’s “malicious” delimitation proposals. He urged leaders to build on that unity.
The Congress chief alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was depriving millions of people of their voting rights and accused the government of continuing attacks on the Constitution, misusing investigative agencies against political opponents and discriminating against non-BJP state governments.
He also flagged rising prices, weak investment, growing private monopolies, difficulties faced by MSMEs, examination paper leaks and alleged atrocities against marginalised communities. Kharge further criticised the Centre’s foreign policy, claiming it had compromised India’s long-standing values and positions.
He invited leaders of all alliance partners to share their views before discussions on the opposition’s future course of action and announced that the INDIA bloc would hold a joint press conference at 2.30 pm. He then requested Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to begin the proceedings.
