Page 19 - Opposition

Change the Constitution if you have guts, will see who supports you: Omar

The opposition alleged that the government was resorting to "drama" just because they got together and called their bloc INDIA. BJP leaders have strongly supported the move by the govt

INDIA vs BJP: Results for 7 assembly bypolls today, counting to begin soon

The seven seats include Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh, Puthuppally in Kerala, Dhupguri in West Bengal, Dumri in Jharkhand, and Boxanagar and Dhanpur in Tripura

Rajasthan elections: INDIA bloc shaking Modi, BJP, and RSS, says CM Gehlot

Gehlot calls BJP's Parivartan Yatras a "flop show" while crediting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for INDIA bloc formation

Spell out Parl session's agenda, not keep country in dark: 'INDIA' bloc

Opposition parties of the INDIA alliance on Tuesday demanded that the government maintain transparency and not keep the country in the dark on the agenda of the special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22, even as they called for early passage of the women's reservation bill. Sources said former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for early passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming session as the same has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha. At a meeting, the opposition parties decided to move together in the upcoming session and also raise the Adani issue. They also decided to hold the first INDIA parties' joint public rally in Madhya Pradesh and the next meeting in Bhopal. The leaders of several opposition parties, who attended the dinner meeting hosted by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence here, also discussed the strategy to be adopted during the upcoming session. Kharge said the Narendra Modi ...

Oppn candidates don't stand a chance against NDA in UP: Anupriya Patel

Union minister and Apna Dal (Sonelal) president Anupriya Patel said on Monday that the opposition INDIA bloc has no existence in Uttar Pradesh and its candidates do not stand a chance in an electoral contest in the state against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). She also claimed that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will soon disintegrate like a "house of cards". "Whenever the question of NDA versus INDIA arises, at least in Uttar Pradesh, INDIA's candidates will not be able to stand in front of the NDA," Patel said while replying to a reporter's question after attending a meeting of her party here. Stressing that the opposition alliance has no future, Patel, whose party is a constituent of the NDA, said, "Very soon, this alliance will disintegrate like a house of cards. Everyone (in the opposition alliance) is a leader and a contender for the prime minister's post. There is no policy for seat distribution nor is there any possibility of a ..

Next meeting of INDIA bloc could be held in Bhopal along with joint rally

The next meeting of the INDIA bloc may be held at Bhopal in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh along with the first joint public rally of leaders of various opposition parties, sources said on Monday. They said the option of holding the next meeting was discussed at the just-concluded meeting of opposition parties in Mumbai and there was a broad consensus on holding the meeting in Bhopal, but no date was finalised and its modalities had not been worked out. The next meeting of the opposition alliance, which plans to take on the ruling NDA jointly in next general elections, could be held as early as October, the sources said. Delhi was also considered as one of the options by opposition leaders. However, there was no confirmation on the date. The opposition leaders have been working in cohesion to take on the NDA which was also reflected during the Parliament sessions. The INDIA bloc has already held three meetings in Patna, Bengaluru and Mumbai and now they plan to hold joint rallies again

INDIA bloc has no 'neta' or 'niti', says BJP leader Nityanand Rai

Hitting out at the opposition INDIA bloc, senior BJP leader and Union minister Nityanand Rai on Sunday said the alliance does not have any 'neta' (leader) or 'niti' (policy). The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, who arrived here on a two-day visit to Odisha, said the opposition alliance's recent Mumbai meeting was a gathering of parties and leaders, who are "arrogant, deep in corruption and believe in dynastic politics". "Such parties and leaders are playing the drama of gathering at one platform. On the other hand, the people of India have come together to elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for the third time in 2024 with a thumping majority more than the 2019 elections," he claimed. In its Mumbai meeting, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) alliance was supposed to choose a coordinator for the bloc. However, it has formed a coordination committee of 13 leaders from different parties, the Union minister said. The opposition alliance compris

Oppn bloc INDIA must give proper agenda to country, says Thackeray-led Sena

A day after the INDIA alliance meeting culminated in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday said the fabric stitched by its constituents will be futile if the opposition bloc does not give a proper agenda to the country. In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana', the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said the issue of seat-sharing should be resolved peacefully in every state. The INDIA grouping on Friday vowed to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together as far as possible, asserting seat-sharing arrangements in states will be concluded at the earliest in a collaborative spirit of give-and-take. As many as 63 representatives from 28 political parties took part in the third meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) alliance at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai. The editorial said that the Left and the ruling Trinamool Congress have differences in West Bengal, but the two parties took part in the INDIA alliance meeting. The same is the case in Kerala where the ...

One Nation, One Election not practical in Indian democratic system: Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday criticised the BJP-led Centre's proposal for 'one nation, one election', saying there is no practical way in which such a system can be implemented. Talking to reporters here on his first visit to his Lok Sabha constituency after becoming a member of the Congress Working Committee, Tharoor said the 'one nation, one election' initiative of the government would be against the existing system, which is based on parliamentary democracy, where parties cannot continue in power if they lose the majority in the house. "There is no practical way in which you can implement such a system. The second concern that many of us have is that the big diversity of India actually benefits from the staggered calendar that has evolved over the years," Tharoor said. Former president Ram Nath Kovind was on Friday tasked by the Centre with the responsibility of heading a committee to explore the feasibility of 'one nation, one election'. The committee will explore h

One Nation One Election: Govt appoints panel, Oppn questions BJP's motive

BJP welcomed the move and said that it is the necessity of the day adding that the money spent on elections and that money can be used for welfare schemes

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Opposition INDIA alliance announces 14-member coordination committee

The INDIA bloc also put together a resolution to "contest the Lok Sabha elections together as far as possible"

Opposition bloc INDIA resolves to jointly contest 2024 Lok Sabha elections

Opposition alliance INDIA passed a resolution on Friday in Mumbai, where the parties resolved to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024 together as far as possible

INDIA bloc lauds Isro for successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 mission

Opposition alliance INDIA on Friday passed a resolution hailing ISRO's successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 mission, and asserted that it took six decades to build, expand and deepen the space agency's capacities and capabilities. It also hoped that its extraordinary accomplishments will strengthen the spirit of scientific temper in society and give youth the inspiration to excel in science. The resolution adopted by the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) on ISRO's successful Chandrayaan-3 mission said the world is looking eagerly to the launch of Aditya-L1 mission on Saturday. "We, the INDIA parties congratulate the entire ISRO family - present and past for its outstanding achievements which have made our country proud. It has taken six decades to build, expand and deepen ISRO's capacities and capabilities," the resolution said. It said the Chandrayaan-3 has thrilled the world, which is looking eagerly to the launch of Aditya-L1 on Saturday. Aditya-L1 spacecra

Opposition leaders question Centre's 'one nation, one election' move

Opposition leaders on Friday slammed the government's move to set up a committee to study feasibility of "one nation, one election", alleging it would pose a threat to the federal structure of the country. CPI leader D Raja said Prime Minister Narendra Modi always talks about India being mother of democracy and then how can the government take a unilateral decision without discussing with other political parties. Priyanka Kakkar of the Aam Aadmi Party said this shows the "panic" in the ruling party after they saw the unity of opposition parties under INDIA bloc. "First they reduced LPG prices by Rs 200 and now the panic is so much that they are thinking of amending the Constitution. They have realised that they are not winning the upcoming elections. "Also, can this move take care of inflation or high prices of petrol and diesel. Our Constitution was framed after a lot of discussion and what they want to do poses a threat to federalism," Kakkar told PTI. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader San

Oppn 'INDIA' bloc holds crucial talks to strategise on 2024 Lok Sabha polls

Amid speculation of early polls and formation of a panel to explore the possibility of 'one nation, one election', top leaders of the Opposition bloc INDIA on Friday initiated crucial discussions to give structure to their cooperation and crystallise their plans about seat sharing and a common agenda to take on the NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. During the formal talks in the third round of opposition meeting, the opposition leaders are likely to come out with a joint statement and announce the coordination panel besides some sub panels to give proper shape to their poll plans. Leaders, who have gathered here from across the country, will move forward on specific issues like setting up a coordination committee and form sub groups to work on their common agenda, media strategy, joint actions and programmes. During informal talks over dinner on Thursday night, the leaders stressed on the urgency to finalise seat sharing and come out with a joint agenda in a few weeks' time, ...

INDIA bloc leaders hold talks to decide agenda for main meeting

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi arrived in Mumbai on Thursday to participate in the INDIA alliance meeting. They were welcomed by senior party leader and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Ashok Chavan and other leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal arrived in the city earlier in the day. Soon after his arrival, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a press conference on the Adani issue at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the venue of the two-day meeting of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). On Friday, he will visit Tilak Bhavan, the party headquarters in Mumbai. The two-day meeting is expected to deliberate on the strategy and roadmap to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Oppn leaders just banking on name of their grouping INDIA alliance: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday took a dig at the INDIA alliance and said the opposition leaders are just banking on the name of their grouping as it was the only refuge left to them. He also cited a Hindi proverb 'naam bade aur darshan chhote' (big name with little substance) to describe the opposition bloc. The two-day meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) began in Mumbai on Thursday. During the meeting, deliberations on the strategy and roadmap to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are expected to take place. Singh also said that India has become powerful now and nobody considers it a weak nation anymore globally. India's stature globally has increased substantially as compared to what it was in the past and the world listens attentively to what it speaks which was not the case earlier, he said. Singh was speaking at an event held on the birth anniversary of Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil, the

Meeting of Opposition alliance begins in Mumbai, top leaders in attendance

The third meeting of the Opposition's INDIA alliance started in Mumbai on Thursday evening with leaders of several prominent political parties coming together to discuss the strategy and agenda of the grouping which is seeking to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre. The meeting at Grand Hyatt hotel is being attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, among others. Rahul Gandhi was seen chatting with the NCP's Supriya Sule and Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, and the RJD's Manoj Jha before the meet began. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar arrived here in the evening for the meeting. West Bengal chief minist

'INDIA' bloc aims to promote interests of some families: BJP slams oppn

The BJP on Thursday slammed the opposition INDIA bloc as a "selfish alliance" aimed at promoting and protecting the interests of families at the helm of its member parties. With 28 opposition parties meeting in Mumbai to give concrete shape to their agenda against the BJP, the ruling party's spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Congress' "missile" will never launch as it has no fuel. The BJP's Chandrayaan will successfully land for a third time in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as it is fuelled by development, he told reporters, drawing an analogy with the country's historic lunar exploration mission. "The CMP (common minimum programme) being discussed in the INDIA alliance is, in fact, all about having "corruption's maximum profit" as all these parties together represent scams worth over Rs 20 lakh crore," he alleged. Their other aim is to deliver a blow to the stable and pro-development dispensation running under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, he added. Patra said the ...