Published Jun 08, 2026 | 10:32 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 08, 2026 | 4:30 PM
INDIA bloc leaders during the meeting in Delhi.
Synopsis: A meeting of the Opposition INDIA bloc is underway in New Delhi, with the Congress confirming the attendance of 23 parties. Reports said the meeting is expected to discuss several issues, including alleged electoral malpractices, the CBSE and NEET rows, and how to counter the BJP.
A meeting of the Opposition INDIA bloc is underway at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Monday, 8 June, with the Congress confirming the attendance of 23 parties.
Earlier, the DMK had said it would not attend the meeting, calling the Congress’s alliance with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu a “betrayal” of the alliance agreement.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) sources said its General Secretary, MA Baby, would not be attending the meeting “in protest” against Congress leaders accusing the Left party of compromising with the BJP. However, the party sent its Rajya Sabha floor leader, John Brittas, for the meeting.
Apart from Congress leaders, senior leaders of Samajwadi Party, TMC, RJD, National Conference, PDP, JMM, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), CPI(M), CPI, CPI (ML), RSP, IUML, VCK, MDMK, Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (M), RLP, BAP, Lok Dal, Forward Bloc, Shetkari Kamgar Paksh attended the meeting along with independent MP Kapil Sibal.
Also Read: DMK to skip INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, citing Congress ‘betrayal’ after Tamil Nadu polls
Reports said the meeting is expected to discuss several issues, including alleged electoral malpractices, the CBSE and NEET rows, and how to counter the BJP, which is trying to capitalise on the cracks in the Opposition and the electoral debacle of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, confirming the presence of 23 political parties, said that although some other parties would not be attending the meeting, they have conveyed their opposition to the Modi government’s policies. It is seen as an apparent reference to the DMK’s participation and its involvement in the Opposition alliance.
Congress President Kharge said the alliance demonstrated unity and solidarity in the Lok Sabha in a very decisive manner on 17 April, when all of them came together firmly to defeat the Modi government’s malicious bills on delimitation.
“Now we must strengthen that same spirit even further and move ahead, so that we can confront the many political, economic, social, and foreign policy challenges facing the country due to the Modi government’s misgovernance. Due to CAA, the voting rights of millions of people are being stripped away. The assault on the Constitution continues unabated. Investigative agencies are being persistently used as tools to harass, intimidate, and bully political opponents,” he said.
Claiming that discrimination is being meted out against non-BJP governments, he said, “Prices of essential goods are continuously rising, and the economic environment is extremely negative. The pace at which new investments should be coming in to create new jobs is simply not happening at that pace. Private monopolies are growing in many sectors, and the future of MSMEs is in serious crisis. Due to the complete mismanagement of the examination system, a betrayal of the hopes and aspirations of our millions of youth is taking place. Atrocities against the weaker sections of society, especially in BJP-ruled states, continue unabated.”
“Our foreign policy has been completely compromised, and those traditional values, which India has long staunchly supported, have not been upheld,” Kharge added.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan criticised the Congress party’s approach during the recent Tamil Nadu elections. He called for stronger unity among opposition parties to counter the BJP-led Union government.
Referring to the NEET and CBSE gaffes, he said the future of Indian students has been put at risk due to the BJP government’s “wrong approach”.
He alleged that repeated question paper leaks had resulted in examinations being cancelled and reconducted, while several irregularities had come to light in the process. According to him, lakhs of students had been affected, but no one in the BJP government had taken responsibility.
Thirumavalavan criticised Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for remaining silent on the issue and said the spontaneous protests by students and youth should serve as a warning sign for all political parties.
“We failed to take to the streets for the issues faced by young people, and that is why this situation has emerged,” he said.
He also urged the INDIA bloc not to treat youth-led protest groups such as the “Cockroach Janata Party” as adversaries, but instead, amplify the issues raised by them on a larger political platform through nationwide agitations.
Thirumavalavan said dissatisfaction had emerged among several INDIA bloc partners over the Congress party’s approach during the recent elections.
He said the Congress party’s electoral strategy in states such as Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu had weakened alliance partners, including All India Trinamool Congress, the CPI(M), and the DMK.
“This is not desirable. The Congress party must review its approach and identify ways to strengthen opposition unity further,” he said.
The VCK leader stressed that while ideological and political contradictions naturally existed between national and regional parties, those differences should not be sharpened further.
Thirumavalavan further urged the INDIA bloc to organise nationwide protests against the Modi government over issues including examination paper leaks, economic distress, and Centre-State relations.
He alleged that the BJP government’s foreign policy failures had pushed the country towards economic instability and created pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves.
Drawing comparisons with the COVID-19 period, he warned that the country could face another major crisis affecting crores of people economically.
“We must expose this situation and organise nationwide protests against the Narendra Modi government,” he said.
