All views on INDIA block to meet tomorrow, 23 parties to participate amid differences: What will TMC, Congress, CPM discuss? | Today’s news

The INDIA bloc is set to hold a key meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Monday (June 8) at 12 noon. All eyes will be on the Congress and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress – allies of the INDIA bloc who have not contested the 2026 West Bengal elections in an alliance.

The INDIA block meeting comes ahead of the Rajya Sabha and by-elections in some states.

Ahead of the meeting, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “23 political parties have confirmed participation in the INDIA janbandhan meeting at Constitution Club, New Delhi on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 12 noon.”

He said there are some parties who have expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons – “even though they have expressed their strong opposition to Modi Govt’s policies and actions which will take away the right to vote from millions of Indians, attack the constitution on a daily basis, attack opposition leaders through investigative agencies, seriously damage the livelihood of Indian households due to rising prices of Indian lands. hopes and aspirations of thousands of young people, dampening the investment climate and compromising national interests with its foreign policy.”

TMC leader Derek O’Brien responded to Ramesh’s post by saying: “A meeting with a common goal and a clear intention. INDIA united. Many parties look forward to meeting in a spirit of camaraderie.”

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had earlier clarified that it would not attend the June 8 INDIA bloc meeting, citing betrayal of the Congress after the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.

While the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) said it would attend the INDIA block meeting, CPM state secretary Srinivas Rao said, “Congress is not acting as a serious opposition. The INDIA block will be united only if the Congress proves its allegations against the CPI.”

what’s on the agenda

Reports claimed that the leaders will meet to revamp their strategy to take on the BJP and iron out differences amid changed power dynamics following the defeat of regional anchors TMC and DMK in the recent assembly polls.

The alliance is ready to deliberate on the way forward and will aim to give the Modi government a united face on national issues ahead of the next election cycle in the states and ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, PTI reported.

TMC is likely to raise the issue of alleged attacks on its leaders in Bengal and rally the support of INDIA bloc parties.

Sources told NDTV that Mamata Banerjee does not want to contest any assembly elections in the current climate even though Bengal is holding by-elections for two seats – Chief Minister Suvenda Adhikari’s seat in Nandigram and Humayun Jahangir’s seat in Rejinagar.

There is also speculation that Banerjee is not interested in the assembly as she wants to fight in the Lok Sabha polls. A by-election is being held for the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, which is a Muslim-majority constituency. Mamata Banerjee needs Congress’ help to win the Basirhat seat, NDTV reported.

Meanwhile, the CPI-M is set to level an allegation at the Congress that the Left had a political understanding with the BJP in the Kerala polls. The Left parties lost against the UDF-led Congress in the only state in which they were in power.

The CPI(M), which will be represented in the meeting by its Rajya Sabha leader John Brittas, is likely to raise the issue and seek an explanation from the Congress leadership, sources told PTI.

Party general secretary MA Baby wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge that such allegations are against the spirit of cooperation that underpins the opposition alliance.

Angomcha Congress MP Bimol Akoijam said, “We will discuss some major issues of our alliance and how to proceed. I think that is the main agenda that we have…these are the temporary setbacks that we had in Assam and so on. But I think we will come back…”

Meanwhile, CPI general secretary D Raja said that a formal meeting of the INDIA bloc is being held after a long time. “…the program is not very clear. Each side has to raise certain issues.”

“Left parties also have issues that we want to raise and other parties may have their own concerns. We will see what issues come up in the meeting. DMK is not participating in the meeting and the Left parties have openly said that there are issues that need to be discussed,” Raja said on Sunday.

Mamata Banerjee meets Arvind Kejriwal

Meanwhile, former West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee met AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday. AAP has officially left the INDIA bloc after the 2024 parliamentary elections.

“Our Honorable Chairman Smt @MamataOfficial along with our Honorable National General Secretary Shri @abhishekaitc met Shri @ArvindKejriwal Ji in Delhi today,” TMC posted on X on Sunday.

“After a warm interaction, they held a wide-ranging discussion on the journey ahead. When the people of India come together, no force on earth can stop their march towards justice, dignity and a better future in 2029,” TMC added.