Eight new political parties, including two former BJP allies, will attend the second opposition unity meeting to be held in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18. This will bring the total number of parties attending the second meeting to 24.
"Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani) are among the new political parties that will be joining the meeting," ANI quoted sources.
Interestingly, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK) were allies of the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. "After last month's mega Opposition meet in Bihar's Patna, top leaders of as many as 24 political parties will be attending the second meeting set to take place in Karnataka's Bengaluru," the sources added.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also attend the Opposition Parties meeting.
This comes as Congress President Kharge began sending out invitation letters addressed to top opposition party leaders. Kharge also reminded them about their participation in June 23 opposition meeting held in Patna called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Stating that the Patna meeting was a success, Kharge reminded the leaders that it was important to keep the momentum going. "I believe that it is important to continue these discussions and build on the momentum that we have created. We need to work together to find solutions to the challenges that our country is facing," the letter further stated.
More political developments are happening in the run-up to the Bengaluru meeting as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) recently decided to pause unity discussions. The party said all discussions in this regard will happen only after Congress declares its stance on the ordinance issue. However, the party has received an invitation to the Bengaluru meeting.
The first Opposition Unity meeting attended by more than 15 parties was held in Patna on June 23, and it was convened by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Leaders including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin were among those who attended the meeting.