Mumbai is abuzz as the INDIA Bloc Conference approaches. The conference is scheduled for August 31 and September 1. This gathering will be a high-profile event, drawing in 60 prominent figures from 26 opposition parties. It includes former Union ministers and chief ministers.
The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is hosting the event, has booked 175 rooms at the Grand Hyatt Hotel to accommodate the delegates.
In preparation for the conference, senior leaders from the MVA alliance, including Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar of the NCP, recently held a meeting. One significant discussion point was the invitation of Congress chief ministers. Pawar believed that inviting them could elevate the meeting's significance. This idea is now under consideration by the Congress leadership.
Adding to the mix, Swabhimani Paksha and the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) are set to join the conference. Both parties hold influence in various regions, particularly among farmers. Swabhimani Paksha defected from the government alliance in 2017 due to unfulfilled promises regarding minimum support prices for agricultural products.
Sanjay Nirupam, a Congress leader, has announced that the coalition will unveil its logo on August 31. Additionally, the alliance plans to establish an 11-person coordination committee.
Traditional Maharashtrian hospitality will welcome the conference attendees. This will start with the sounds of dhol and tutari from Nashik. On the food front, a gala dinner is planned for August 31. It will feature regional dishes from Maharashtra alongside continental cuisine. Some of the items will include jhunka bhakar, masala wangi, wada pav, puran poli, and other local specialties.
According to reports, the INDIA Bloc Conference will host many high profile ministers. This may include Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi.
From the heads of the state, it may see Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, Samajwadi chief, and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
The left front could be represented by Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja and CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
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