Congress Outside Congress: Over 50 Organizations Unite In Support of INDI Alliance; Strategic Focus On 100-150 Lok Sabha Seats

In a show of solidarity, representatives from more than 50 civil society organizations and 18 independent small political parties, that claim to be distinct from the INDI bloc, convened on Friday to voice their support for opposition candidates in the upcoming state and Lok Sabha elections.

The gathering, titled "Jeetega INDIA: National Convention for Democracy, Secularism, and Social Justice," was organised by the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan (BJA) and the Confederation of Indian Communists and Democratic Socialists.

Yogendra Yadav, leader of Swaraj India, unveiled a strategic focus on 100-150 electoral constituencies where opposition candidates have narrowly missed victory in the past, with the objective of bolstering their electoral performance.

Yadav highlighted the broad national participation in the convention, with representatives hailing from more than 20 states.

A resolution adopted during the convention expressed deep concern about the 'current assault on the foundational principles of the Indian Republic'.

The Convention also sought to cast a spotlight on pressing economic issues, including a 'burgeoning recession, escalating unemployment rates, and rising inflation'.

Notably, it was Yogendra Yadav who had participated in Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra for the entire stretch of the campaign. In the UPA years, Yadav was also member of the National Advisory Council, a body set up to advise the Prime Minister but which faced allegations of wielding extra-constitutional authority.