Days before polls result, INDIA's meeting called on June 1
The leaders of the opposition bloc—Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance—have called for an all-party meeting on June 1—the day when polling for the final phase of Lok Sabha elections will take place, reports said. The alliance partners have been invited to a meeting in the national capital four days before the election results are announced. Notably, the meeting will be held a day before Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal—who is out on interim bail by the Supreme Court—has to surrender.
Why does this story matter?
The 28-member INDIA bloc was formed in July last year to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha polls. The NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in office at the Centre, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi a hattrick of terms in the country's top post. The general elections began on April 19. Voting for the second to sixth phases was conducted on April 26, May 7, 13, 20, and 25.
INDIA meeting to review, discuss coalition's future
The meeting was called to review and discuss the coalition's future course of action following the general elections. All chiefs of the alliance, including Kejriwal, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, have been invited. To recall, after the sixth phase on Saturday, the Congress claimed that the INDIA bloc has already crossed the halfway mark of 272 seats and is on track for over 350 seats in total.
Congress leader's prediction for 2024 polls
Recently, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) also claimed that the INDIA bloc will sweep the NDA away. "With six phases of the elections now concluded... As the outgoing PM starts figuring out his retirement plans, here's the round-up of the campaign for...elections," he said. "The BJP's fate is all but sealed. It has become clear that they are South mein Saaf, aur North, West, and East mein Half," he added.
SC granted bail to Kejriwal on May 10
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in a money laundering probe linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy and was lodged in Tihar Jail. On May 10, the Supreme Court granted bail to the CM till June 1. Under interim bail guidelines, Kejriwal cannot visit his office or interact with any witnesses related to this case. It had also prohibited him from signing official documents unless it was absolutely required to have the lieutenant governor's assent.
