INDI Alliance Meeting Restricted To Just Tea And Biscuits, Finished Without Serious Discussion: JD(U) Leader

JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar Pintu on Wednesday (20 December) criticised the recently concluded fourth meeting of the INDI Alliance on Wednesday.

He expressed disappointment, stating that the meeting was merely limited to tea and biscuits, without any serious issues being discussed.

In an interview with news agency ANI, the MP from JD(U), which is part of the INDI Alliance, stated that although senior leaders from various parties attended the meeting with the intention of discussing the alliance, no such conversation took place.

"In the meeting yesterday, big leaders of several parties had come for sharing in the alliance. But no discussion on the same could be done. Yesterday's meeting was restricted to tea and biscuits," Pintu was quoted as saying by ANI.

The JD(U) MP highlighted the Congress party's admission of being low on funds.

"They are seeking donations of Rs 138, Rs 1380 or Rs 13,800. The donations are yet to come in. So, yesterday's meeting finished on just tea and biscuits without samosa and without any discussion on any serious issue," he said.

Following certain media reports which suggested that Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar and the head of Janata Dal-United (JDU), was "unhappy" with the proposition of Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge as the Prime Ministerial candidate, the Congress party refuted these claims, asserting that the meeting had ended on a "good note".

Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir stated that the meeting lasted for approximately five to six hours.

"The meeting was crucial and effective. It was concluded on a good note. If some media reports are claiming that Nitish Kumarji was unhappy over the meeting, there might be some 'vested interest' but I reckon that he is the convener of the alliance and he will make it reach its destination", Mir said.

Earlier, the opposition's INDI Alliance concluded its fourth meeting with the adoption of a resolution on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the suspension of Members of Parliament.

The gathering occurred in the midst of rising political strife between the Opposition and the BJP-led central government, sparked by the call for a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah concerning the recent security breach in Parliament.

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections only four months away, the seat distribution is crucial for Congress, particularly in light of recent electoral defeats.

The opposition alliance, on the other hand, has yet to agree on a prime ministerial candidate for the bloc.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress President, has clarified that the decision on the prime ministerial nominee will be made post-election.

Earlier today, the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc held a meeting at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.

Coming out of the meeting, CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem informed that the INDIA alliance will hold a protest on 22 December.