INDIA Bloc Meets in Delhi Today — 23 Opposition Parties Gather at Constitution Club as DMK and AAP Skip Crucial Strategy Session
Leaders from 23 opposition parties are meeting in New Delhi on Monday, 8 June 2026, for a crucial strategy session of the INDIA bloc — the alliance’s first major gathering after a series of assembly election setbacks and growing internal tensions. The meeting, scheduled at the Constitution Club at 12 noon, will test the coalition’s ability to project a united front against the ruling BJP ahead of state elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
However, the gathering has been overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of two significant allies: the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a ruling party in Tamil Nadu, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has faced its own political turbulence. Their decision to skip the meeting has raised fresh questions about the cohesion of India’s largest opposition formation.
Who Is Attending
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed the attendance of 23 parties in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “23 political parties have confirmed participation in the INDIA janbandhan meeting at Constitution Club, New Delhi on Monday June 8, 2026, at 12 noon,” Ramesh said. “Like India, the INDIA janbandhan continues to stand united through its diversity.”
Among the senior leaders expected to attend are Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee (who left for Delhi on Sunday), Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is expected to join via video conferencing, according to party spokesperson Sanjay Raut.
Abhishek Banerjee of the TMC is also expected to attend, along with representatives from the CPI(M), CPI, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, among others.
Why DMK and AAP Are Absent
The DMK’s absence is particularly significant given that it is one of the INDIA bloc’s strongest regional partners, governing Tamil Nadu with a comfortable majority. While party sources did not provide a detailed explanation, political analysts note that the DMK has historically maintained a degree of independence from Congress-led formations and may be recalibrating its position following recent electoral dynamics in southern India.
The AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, is also unlikely to attend. The party has been focused on its own legal and political challenges and has distanced itself from several INDIA bloc decisions in recent months. The absence of both parties suggests that the alliance, formed in 2023 to challenge the BJP’s dominance, continues to struggle with the fundamental challenge of keeping all its constituents aligned.
CPI(M) Attends Despite Tensions with Congress
Adding to the internal friction, the CPI(M) — which is attending the meeting — has publicly expressed displeasure with Congress. General Secretary M.A. Baby wrote to Kharge seeking clarification over repeated allegations by Congress leaders that the CPI(M) had an understanding with the BJP during the Kerala assembly election campaign. Baby warned that such remarks could “weaken the trust and unity within the opposition alliance.”
Despite the tensions, the party decided to participate and will be represented by Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas. The decision suggests that the CPI(M) wants to remain within the alliance framework while simultaneously pressing for a resolution to its grievances with Congress.
The internal dynamics of India’s political landscape have been turbulent, with developments such as the BJP’s cabinet expansion in West Bengal under Suvendu Adhikari shifting the balance of power and putting additional pressure on the opposition to present a credible alternative.
Key Agenda Items
While the formal agenda has not been publicly announced, sources within the alliance say the meeting is expected to cover several critical issues:
Electoral strategy for upcoming state elections — Multiple states go to polls in the next 18 months, and the bloc needs a coordinated approach to seat sharing and campaign strategy.
The 2029 Lok Sabha roadmap — With just three years until the next general election, the alliance must begin laying the groundwork for its challenge to the BJP.
Response to government policies — Including the economic impact of the rising cost of living driven by factors such as LPG price hikes, the handling of the NEET controversy, and India’s foreign policy direction amidst the ongoing West Asia crisis.
Internal cohesion — Addressing the trust deficit highlighted by the CPI(M)’s letter and managing the expectations of smaller alliance partners who feel sidelined by Congress.
The Bigger Picture
The INDIA bloc was formed in June 2023 as a grand opposition alliance to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While the alliance performed better than expected in some states, it failed to dislodge the BJP-led NDA from power. Since then, the alliance has faced a series of setbacks, including electoral losses in state elections and a gradual weakening of inter-party coordination.
Political changes across the country — including the recent Karnataka cabinet crisis resolved by DK Shivakumar — have demonstrated that even within Congress-governed states, managing factional politics remains a significant challenge. The ability of the INDIA bloc to function as a disciplined, nationwide opposition will depend on whether leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav can bridge ideological and strategic differences.
Monday’s meeting is being seen as a litmus test. If the bloc can emerge with a clear, unified message and a concrete action plan, it will signal that the alliance remains a viable political force. If the differences remain unresolved, it may accelerate the fragmentation that the BJP has consistently sought to exploit.
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