INDIA Vs Modi: Can Opposition Unity End His Dominance In Indian Politics?

For the first time ever in Indian politics, 26 opposition parties have formed an alliance called ‘INDIA’ (Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance).

This move comes ahead of 2024 parliamentary elections, aiming at pulling down the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP-led NDA party at the Centre.

A statement from the INDIA alliance said the "character of our republic is being severely assaulted in a systematic manner by the BJP" and pledged to "safeguard the idea of India as enshrined in the Constitution".

After the end of a two-day crucial meeting at Bengaluru today, July 18, Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the main opposition Congress party, said that the main aim is to stand together to safeguard democracy and the constitution.

It is pertinent to note that the first meeting, which was held last month, had 15 parties agreeing to unite against the BJP.

On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi exclaimed: “The fight against BJP is a fight to "defend the idea of India, defend the voice of the Indian people" and two different ideas of India... The voice of the country is being stifled. The fight is for the voice of the country. So this name was chosen -- I.N.D.I.A."

The name for the united opposition was arrived at after much deliberation on Day 2 of the mega meeting.

Sources said the Left parties wanted the word 'Alliance' to be changed to 'Front' while some parties were not too keen on 'NDA' in the name. Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray pushed for a name that would not have any mention of opposition.

It was Gandhi who finally came up with the acronym, tweeted Jitendra Ahwad of the Nationalist Congress Party. "His creativity was greatly appreciated," his tweet read. Moreover, Shiv Sena leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray also took to Twitter and shared: "This battle is now going to be INDIA vs Dictatorship!"

बंगळुरू येथे सुरू असणाऱ्या विरोधी पक्षांच्या बैठकीत,या आघाडीचं नाव INDIA ठेवण्याचा प्रस्ताव @RahulGandhi यांनी मांडला.त्यांच्या या कल्पकतेच प्रचंड कौतुक.सर्व पक्षांनी याला अनुमोदन देत आगामी लोकसभा निवडणूक INDIA या नावाखाली लढवण्याचा निर्णय घेतला आहे.

I - Indian
N -…

— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) July 18, 2023

भारताची एकात्मता आणि सार्वभौमत्व टिकवून ठेवण्यासाठी विरोधी पक्षांची जी वज्रमूठ तयार झाली आहे,
तिचं नाव सार्थ आहे - INDIA!
I - Indian
N - National
D - Developmental
I - Inclusive
A - Alliance

ही लढाई आता INDIA विरुद्ध Dictatorship अशी असणार आहे!

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 18, 2023

In the first indication of a common political and economic policy, the alliance said it would focus on fighting rising prices and unemployment.

Kharge said the next meeting of the alliance would form a coordination panel of 11 people, name a convenor and take up the complex issue of farming out seats for parties in the alliance to contest one-on-one against BJP.