Oppn front has a name, INDIA — suggested by Rahul Gandhi, proposed by Mamata Banerjee

In another important move, it was announced that the next Opposition conclave will be held in Mumbai, likely in the second half of August, and will be hosted by the Shiv Sena (UBT), a relatively new entrant to the anti-BJP space which has been under intense pressure from the BJP in Maharashtra.

Mumbai may also see the first joint rally by the Opposition parties, as well as see a decision taken on appointing a convenor for the alliance.

The representatives of the 26 parties present at the Bengaluru meeting — 10 more than the 16 parties which had met in Patna on June 23 — also decided to set up an 11-member coordination committee, including all the major parties, and a ‘secretariat’ in Delhi for campaign management and for coordinating the working of various sub-committees, which will take up specific issues.

Sources said that the name INDIA for the alliance was suggested first by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, but he wanted K C Venugopal, the Congress general secretary (Organisation), to get it cleared with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee first. She is said to have readily agreed to the name, only suggesting that N stand for “new” instead of “national”.

Then there was an informal discussion on whether the letter D should stand for democratic or developmental. After dinner Monday night, sources said, some leaders sat down to discuss the name and give a final shape to the joint statement or ‘Samuhik Sankalp’ to be released after the talks. The meeting went well past midnight.

A decision was also taken to let Mamata propose the name at Tuesday’s meeting.

As per the script, the TMC chief proposed the name, after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had made his opening remarks. Sources said Bihar CM and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar asked how a political alliance could be named INDIA. Caught by surprise, Left leaders Sitaram Yechury, D Raja and G Devarajan were not immediately convinced either, and went into a huddle midway through the meeting.

Yechury then suggested the name V (victory) for India or We for India. But many leaders felt it sounded like a campaign slogan.

Sources said Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said that deciding a seat-sharing arrangement was more important than giving the alliance a name. Yechury too argued that seat-sharing was the main issue, while bringing up the problems that might be faced in states, giving the example of Kerala and West Bengal where the Congress and Left have been traditional rivals. He said the question is how accommodative could the Congress be.

Significantly, once again, both Kharge and Rahul told the meeting that the Congress does not aspire for the prime minister’s post in case the alliance wins in 2024, or any titles. Rahul said the party was ready to accommodate other parties as much as possible. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi chose a passive role, telling the meeting that she was there as a listener and to support everyone.

The TMC and Congress were most eager that the name of the alliance be clinched at the meeting itself. Speaking last, Rahul passionately backed the name INDIA — his argument being that the Opposition could easily create an INDIA vs NDA narrative, and convey to be people that Narendra Modi was “against INDIA” and that all those who are against the BJP “were INDIA”.

Some other names too came up, sources said, such as People’s Alliance for India and Progressive People’s Alliance. The PDP’s

Mehbooba Mufti suggested ‘Bharat Jodo Alliance’, pointing out that Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra was a success.

Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray suggested that there be a Hindi tagline with the name, which is being worked out.

The Left is unlikely to be pleased at the Mamata-Congress coordination on display in Bengaluru. Mamata, sources said, was fuming at Yechury’s remarks Monday that “secular parties”, along with the Left and Congress, will take on the BJP as well as the TMC in Bengal. Sources said RJD chief Lalu Prasad told Yechury to refrain from making such remarks.

He also chided AAP leader and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for attacking the Congress, and asked the Congress to rein in its “Bengal leader who was making statements against the TMC”.

Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Mamata said: “NDA, can you challenge INDIA? BJP, can you challenge INDIA? Other people, can you challenge INDIA?”

She added: “All the focus, all the publicity, all the campaigning, all the programmes will be under the banner of INDIA. If anybody can challenge this, catch us if you can.”

Rahul said the battle is no longer between two political formations or Opposition and the BJP, but for the voice of the country which is being “silenced and crushed”. “The battle is for the idea of India. That is why we came up with this name… the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. That means INDIA. The battle is between the NDA and INDIA, their ideology and INDIA. And you know who wins when somebody stands against India.”

He said the parties will prepare an action plan in Mumbai to take the fight to the people.

The composition of the coordination committee and the sub-committees of the Opposition grouping is yet to be announced. The panels will draft a common programme and communication points for the 2024 general elections, and chalk out a joint programme, including rallies, conventions and agitations.