Opposition's meet: NCP leader Sharad Pawar will not participate in the Opposition's meeting in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Monday. However, the 82-year-old leader is likely to participate on the second day of the meeting on Tuesday (July 18). Leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre.
According to reports, Pawar is also likely to hold a press conference on Monday to explain his future political role. "National President @NCPspeaks @PawarSpeaks Saheb and Executive President @supriya_sule will attend the meeting of opposition parties to be held in Bengaluru on Tuesday 18th July," Maharashtra Spokesperson of NCP's Sharad Pawar faction, Mahesh Bharet Tapase wrote on Twitter.
Several prominent Opposition leaders to attend
Meanwhile, others who are expected to participate include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The two-day session will kickstart with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, followed by a formal meeting on Tuesday. Following the rounds of meetings, the parties are expected to announce their further programme. CPI general secretary D Raja said the two-day session will be a step further in the demonstration of the Opposition's joint resolve to defeat the BJP.
Meanwhile, big posters and banners have been seen on Race Course Road in Bengaluru welcoming leaders of various opposition parties for the joint opposition meeting at the Taj West End Hotel in the Karnataka capital.
As per a tentative schedule, on Monday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal will hold a joint press conference at 11 am. All the opposition leaders will arrive for the afternoon meeting. An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm.
On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm. Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced.
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