INDIA Bloc Leaders All Set To Defeat Centre In Lok Sabha Elections

INDIA bloc leaders on Friday vowed to finalise seat sharing in an accommodative spirit, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claiming the alliance represents 60 per cent of the country's population and will easily defeat the BJP if it fights the Lok Sabha polls unitedly.

Amid speculation of early polls and the government setting up a panel to explore the possibility of 'one nation, one election', leaders from 28 Opposition parties took crucial decisions at their conclave here, including setting up a 14-member coordination committee which will be the top decision-making body of the alliance and start work on seat sharing.

Addressing a joint press conference after the two-day brainstorming here on crystallising the alliance's structure, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleged the BJP-led government was stealing from the poor to help big industrialists. "INDIA grouping must win to stop this loot. We all have a common goal to fight inflation and unemployment," Kharge said at the presser.

In his remarks, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi slammed the government over fresh allegations against the Adani Group. He also claimed China has "taken India's land in Ladakh" and everyone there knows about it. "The most important thing to understand is that this stage represents 60 per cent of the Indian population. If the parties on this stage unite, it is impossible for the BJP to win an election. I am confident the INDIA bloc will easily defeat BJP."

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the opposition bloc has resolved to fight corruption and not allow 'mitra-parivarvad', a term he used apparently to counter the BJP's allegation of nepotism against the opposition parties. "INDIA parties have resolved to fight corruption. We won't allow 'mitra-parivarvad'," he said, seeking to buttress the opposition's allegation of crony capitalism against the BJP.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said there is no certainty about elections and they could be held early, urging the alliance partners to remain alert and prepared. "We have discussed this." His remarks came on a day the government set up a committee to study the feasibility of "one nation, one election", opening the possibility of Lok Sabha polls being advanced so that they could be held with a string of state assembly polls.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said INDIA was not an alliance of some parties but of 140 crore Indians who want to build a developed India. "There has never been such an arrogant and corrupt govt at the Centre," he alleged and said their arrogance will bring them down. "No one has joined the INDIA group for any post," Kejriwal said after the opposition meet.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad said PM Modi benefited because opposition parties were not together and he was happy that they are united now. He slammed the government, alleging that minorities were not feeling safe in the country and prices were rising constantly. Lalu Prasad said he would be accommodative in seat-sharing and the process across the country will be completed without any problem.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar slammed the BJP for its 'Ghamandia' barb at the INDIA grouping, saying it shows their arrogance.