INDIA Bloc to convene every two months; next meeting on August 8: Kharge

PTC Web Desk: Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc met in the national capital on Monday for their seventh coordination meeting, where they agreed on a common strategy to raise issues ranging from electoral transparency and examination irregularities to inflation, unemployment and the economy.

INDIA की बैठक में मेरे शुरुआती वक्तव्य का अंश —

मैं INDIA समूह के नेताओं की इस बैठक में आप सभी का स्वागत करता हूं। यह समूह लगभग ठीक तीन साल पहले अस्तित्व में आया था। मैं ज्यादा नहीं बोलना चाहता, क्योंकि हमारे सामने मौजूद मुद्दे आप सभी अच्छी तरह जानते हैं।हमने 17 अप्रैल, 2026 को… pic.twitter.com/sgUB7UjDUg

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 8, 2026

The meeting, which began around noon and lasted for more than two hours, was attended by senior leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Supriya Sule. Representatives from 25 political parties, along with Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, participated in the deliberations.

Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the alliance had reached consensus on five key issues. He alleged that students across the country had been "betrayed" due to irregularities in the NEET examination process and demanded the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the handling of the NEET and CBSE-related matters.

Kharge announced that the alliance would write to the Chief Election Commissioner regarding concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and broader questions surrounding the fairness of elections. He said opposition parties would also intensify their campaign on issues of rising prices, unemployment and economic challenges facing the country, while demanding an all-party meeting on matters of national importance.

The alliance also decided that its next meeting would be held in Hyderabad on August 8 and that such gatherings would take place every two months to strengthen coordination among opposition parties.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad says, "The goal of the INDIA alliance is to expose the anti-people policies of the BJP. In 2029, the INDIA alliance will defeat the BJP and the Narendra Modi govt and form our own govt."

"The BJP will always neglect their… pic.twitter.com/ZcMS5Ww20e

— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2026

Speaking at the meeting, Kharge accused the BJP-led government of continuing attacks on constitutional institutions and alleged that investigative agencies were being used to target opposition leaders. He further claimed that weaknesses in the economy and slower-than-expected investment growth were affecting job creation.

Referring to recent controversies surrounding national-level examinations, Kharge said mismanagement of the examination system had adversely impacted the aspirations of millions of young people. He also highlighted the unity displayed by opposition parties in Parliament on April 17, when they collectively opposed delimitation-related legislation, and stressed the need to maintain that solidarity.

Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said the participation of more than 20 parties demonstrated the alliance's commitment to a common national agenda. While acknowledging that individual parties may have differences on certain issues, he said the broader objective of safeguarding democratic values continued to unite them.

Meanwhile, posters critical of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party appeared on Delhi's Akbar Road on Monday morning. The source of the posters could not be immediately identified. One of the posters reportedly featured remarks attributed to NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar, questioning Gandhi's consistency. Later in the day, Youth Congress workers removed and tore down the posters.

#WATCH | Delhi Youth Congress workers removed the posters that were put up targeting Congress and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi

(Source: Delhi Youth Congress) pic.twitter.com/q7ZG10qTqN

— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2026

Among the parties represented at the meeting were 

Congress

Samajwadi Party

Trinamool Congress

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)

National Conference

People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)

Shiv Sena (UBT)

NCP (Sharad Pawar faction)

CPI(M)

CPI

CPI(ML) Liberation

Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK)

Kerala Congress

Kerala Congress (M)

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP)

Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP)

Lok Dal

Forward Bloc

Shetkari Kamgar Paksha (SKP)