INDIA alliance meet postponed to December 18 after key leaders announce to skip tomorrow's schedule

A crucial meeting of the INDIA opposition bloc, originally scheduled to take place in Delhi tomorrow, has been postponed to December 18, sources disclosed on Tuesday afternoon. The gathering, initiated by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday in the wake of his party's setbacks in three state elections, is now anticipated to convene in the third week of this month, with a date suitable for all participants.

This development comes after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav announced to skip the meeting. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, also confirmed on Monday that she would not be in attendance. All three leaders play key roles in a bloc aimed at uniting the opposition against the BJP in upcoming state elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is eyeing an unprecedented third consecutive term.

Sources indicate that the withdrawal of Kumar, Yadav, and Banerjee is not isolated, revealing a growing divide within the opposition. Regional parties are increasingly discontented with the Congress, accusing it of insisting on fighting elections independently.