Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal Push Mallikarjun Kharge As INDIA Bloc’s PM Face

New Delhi: In a significant development at the INDIA bloc meeting on Tuesday, Mamata Banerjee proposed Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president, as the opposition’s potential Prime Ministerial candidate. This endorsement gained support from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Post-meeting, Kharge emphasized the immediate focus on winning elections, deferring discussions on the PM face. The fourth INDIA bloc meeting addressed critical issues like seat-sharing, campaign strategies and countering the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Kharge revealed ongoing seat-sharing discussions, acknowledging conflicts in states like Punjab would be addressed later. The joint campaign for the 2024 elections is set to commence on January 30, according to sources. The Trinamool Congress urged a swift resolution of seat-sharing plans by year-end, particularly in West Bengal. They suggested the Congress contest around 300 seats in direct conflict with the BJP.

Post-INDIA meeting, Kharge announced a united protest against the unprecedented suspension of 151 MPs on December 22, citing it as the first instance of such mass suspensions in the country.

The meeting, initially scheduled for December 6, was postponed due to key leaders’ unavailability, including Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin, and Arvind Kejriwal. The backdrop of the meeting included the suspension of 141 MPs in a single session, stemming from protests and slogans over the Lok Sabha security breach on December 13.