NEW DELHI: In a show of solidarity, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is set to grace the second gathering of the Opposition in Bangalore. The event, scheduled for July 17 and 18, will be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The dynamic meeting will witness the convergence of 24 parties, representing a diverse range of ideologies.

While the formal proceedings are slated for July 18, Sonia Gandhi's presence will be acknowledged on both days. Congress President Malikarjun Kharge, extending a warm invitation, has reached out to like-minded parties, numbering 24 in total, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

However, the attendance of the AAP remains uncertain as they have expressed reservations about participating in such meetings until they receive unequivocal support from the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, particularly concerning the Centre's ordinance on Delhi services. This ordinance grants the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi the ultimate authority over government officers in the national capital.

Notably, several new invitees, including MDMK, KDMK, VCK, RSP, Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani), have joined the fold, marking a significant expansion of the Opposition's alliance. Together, these 24 parties command the support of around 150 Lok Sabha members, and they aspire to broaden their influence further.

A respected member of the Opposition, who participated in the Patna meeting, revealed that Kharge's invitation mentioned a dinner gathering on July 17, followed by a well-structured formal meeting on July 18.

Sources within the Opposition circles indicate a prevailing belief that the Narendra Modi government might spring a surprise by advancing the Lok Sabha polls. Consequently, the Opposition seeks to establish a comprehensive consensus on various issues at the earliest possible time. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has put forward a proposal for a unified candidate against the BJP, ensuring that anti-BJP votes remain intact. However, reaching an agreement on this proposal remains elusive for now.

Furthermore, the Bangalore meeting will address the concern of potential divisions within the Opposition ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the leadership of Sharad Pawar experienced an internal split soon after the Patna gathering. Hence, discussions will encompass the possibility of further party divisions.

During the Patna meeting, which witnessed the presence of 32 Opposition leaders, including six Chief Ministers representing 15 political parties, Jayant Chaudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) was notably absent, citing a family function as the reason for his non-attendance.

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