The last phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections in India will be held on June 1. On the same day, a meeting of the opposition alliance ‘India’ was called in Delhi. However, there is uncertainty about whether everyone can join it or not. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already said that it will be difficult for her to attend the meeting on that day. Because on that day there are votes in 9 constituencies of the state. Apart from that, he will be busy with the relief measures among the homeless people due to Cyclone Rimal.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the meeting in Delhi on June 1. As Mamata first announced the possibility of her exit, various questions have started to arise about the future of the post-poll alliance. However, the Trinamool leader did not say whether someone else will be sent to the meeting on her behalf.
Because of Mamata’s statement of her position, some other party leaders may not come to the meeting. For example, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh. Or RJD leader of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav.
Like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are also voting in seven phases. The three main partners of the ‘India’ alliance are quite optimistic about the votes in all the three states. Will they leave the state to discuss the ‘post-election strategy’ after the last day of voting? This question is also being discussed.
Congress called this meeting on June 1 for several reasons. First, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal has to go back to Tihar Jail the next day on June 2, the Supreme Court ordered. Kejriwal, however, has applied for an extension of the bail period by seven days as he needs to undergo several health tests for physical reasons.
The Supreme Court is currently on vacation. The Supreme Court has left the responsibility of considering whether Kejriwal’s plea will be heard on urgent basis or not to the Chief Justice. Congress feels that Kejriwal’s plea may be ignored. So it is important to discuss with him before going back to prison.
Second, the Congress wants to alert the agents of the opposition on special matters on the day of counting of votes. Former Congress leader lawyer Kapil Sibal has made some comments in this regard. They need to be explained to the agents present on the day of counting. The Congress president feels that there is a need to explain these issues in that meeting. For that, all parties need to keep an extra day or two.
Thirdly, the results of the exit poll or Boothferat survey will be published on the evening of June 1. The survey provides a glimpse of the likely dynamics of the poll results. Congress wants to understand that and discuss important issues among themselves.
Fourth, on June 3, DMK leaders organized Karunanidhi’s centenary function at their party headquarters in Delhi. Even if the ‘India’ leaders are present, there will be no opportunity to discuss the alliance. Congress sources claim that the meeting has been called on June 1 despite the difficulties.
Mamata’s comment that she will not be able to come to the meeting has also created some new doubts. Even before the elections, various confusions have spread about the ‘India’ alliance. Trinamool has not agreed on seats with the Congress in the state. Bitterness has spread between the leaders of the two parties. Congress-CPM alliance has fought against BJP and Trinamool Congress in the state.
During the elections, Mamata once said that if the India coalition comes to power, they will support the government from outside. Later corrected it. Even before the polls, the CPM leadership and state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury were aware of the Trinamool Congress-BJP ‘tussle’.
Again, Mamata also recently said that the BJP has given money to Congress and CPM leaders in the state to cut Trinamool’s minority votes. Senior Congress leader and this year’s candidate Pradeep Bhattacharya protested that comment. India has not yet normalized the relationship between these two major alliance partners.
Uncertainty surrounding the June 1 meeting has not yet ended. However, no other leader will come to the meeting till Tuesday.