Why Second Opposition Meeting Was Shifted To Bengaluru From Shimla?

The Congress on Monday announced that the next Opposition meeting will be held in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18.

The announcement comes shortly after the party claimed that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar's rebellion won't impact Opposition unity.

"After a hugely successful All-Opposition meeting in Patna, we will be holding the next meeting in Bengaluru on 17 and 18 July, 2023," tweeted Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal.

"We are steadfast in our unwavering resolve to defeat the fascist and undemocratic forces and present a bold vision to take the country forward," he added.

Why in Bengaluru not Shimla?

After the first opposition meeting in Patna on 23 June, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the upcoming meeting to strategise a united front against the BJP would take place in Shimla.

However, the venue was shifted to Bengaluru owing to adverse weather conditions in the Himalayan foothills. Leaders also suggested that it would be difficult for leaders to reach the city in case there are heavy rains and landslides.

Some leaders are also expected to arrive in chartered flights and private jets and it would be difficult for them to attend the crucial meeting if the weather turned adverse.

Few of them even suggested Jaipur as the alternate venue, as polls are due in Rajasthan where the Congress is in power and a show of strength would have sent a positive message to the voters.

Over 32 leaders from various parties inluding Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav attended the first meeting hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his residence in Patna on 23 June.

While Mayawati (BSP), Naveen Patnaik (BJD), K Chandrashekar Rao (BRS) and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (YSRCP) were not invited for the Patna meet.

RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary skipped the meeting due to a predetermined family programme.

The leaders vowed to contest the 2024 general elections together against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).