The INDIA bloc has opted not to stake a claim to form the government, as opposition parties agree that the political climate is currently unfavorable. The decision, relayed to The Print by two opposition leaders, was made during the bloc's first meeting on Wednesday at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence following the Lok Sabha election results.
The two-hour meeting concluded with Kharge reading a statement, emphasizing that the alliance will take “appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realize the people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP’s government.” The joint statement left open the possibility of future attempts to form a government, indicating that back-channel discussions with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) may continue. These parties have emerged as crucial players with the resurgence of coalition politics.
The meeting saw participation from leaders of 21 opposition parties, including Congress heavyweights Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. One leader noted that a formal announcement about exploring government formation options might damage public perception of the alliance, especially since the NDA has secured written support from TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of JD(U).
On the same day, the BJP-led NDA unanimously elected Modi as its leader. Despite losing its majority with only 240 seats, the BJP has managed to surpass the 272-seat threshold with support from TDP and JD(U), who collectively hold 28 MPs.
The INDIA bloc, with a combined strength of 233 seats, is driven by Congress’s 99 seats, a record 37 seats from the Samajwadi Party (SP), and an increased tally of 29 seats from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and TMC's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, represented their parties at the meeting, demonstrating the bloc’s collective strength and ongoing strategic discussions.
