Decision awaits consensus
The News Freedom
New Delhi, December 19
In a significant development ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections, two key regional leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc – Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, and Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party national convener – proposed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s name as the INDI alliance potential Prime Ministerial candidate.
The proposal emerged during a meeting of the opposition leaders in Delhi on Tuesday, where Banerjee and Kejriwal reportedly advocated for Kharge, highlighting his stature as a seasoned politician and the possibility of him becoming the country’s first Dalit prime minister. However, it was emphasized that no final decision has been made on the matter. However, according to reports, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav expressed their dissatisfaction over the Kharge’s name.
आज INDIA गठबंधन की चौथी बैठक हुई। इस बैठक में 28 दलों के नेता शामिल हुए और उन्होंने अपने विचारों को सबके सामने रखा।
सभी ने एकजुट होकर गठबंधन को मजबूत करने और लोगों के हित से जुड़े मुद्दों को उठाने पर बात की।
आने वाले समय में सभी ने मिलकर 8 से 10 मीटिंग करने का फैसला भी किया… pic.twitter.com/8ZSbmHuVoE
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 19, 2023
जो मुद्दा हमने संसद में उठाया था वो केवल ये था कि जो लोग सदन के अंदर सुरक्षा तोड़कर आये, वो कैसे आये? किसने उनको संसद के अंदर घुसने दिया। किस ढंग से वो सब तरफ़ नारेबाज़ी किए? कैसे उन लोगों ने पीले रंग का धुँआ छोड़ा?
हम पहले से यही कह रहें हैं कि गृहमंत्री या प्रधानमंत्री जी सदन… pic.twitter.com/OM2uFHWCe3
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 19, 2023
“Several leaders, including MDMK chief Vaiko, confirmed the development after the meeting,” reported leading news outlets. “While Kharge acknowledged the proposal during the talks, he reportedly stressed the importance of first securing a decisive victory and increasing the alliance’s strength in the upcoming elections before delving into leadership discussions.”
Kharge’s potential candidacy has sparked mixed reactions within the opposition camp. While some leaders, particularly from the Congress party, view him as a unifying figure who could consolidate anti-BJP votes, others have expressed reservations about his age and lack of national appeal.
The INDIA bloc aims to present a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming polls. However, forging consensus on a prime ministerial candidate has been a major challenge, with concerns about regional aspirations and individual ambitions potentially hindering the process.