INDIA bloc meet today, allies to seek better deal from Congress

The Congress, which expected good results in the recently held Assembly elections, had delayed seat-sharing talks thinking good performance in the polls will give it an upper hand. Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member, said the Assembly results hopefully was able to bring the Congress face to face with reality.

IUML (Indian Union of Muslim League) MP Abdul Wahab said the Congress ought to have reached an understanding with other parties that showed interest in having electoral tie-up for the Assembly elections. The members, however, are keen that INDIA bloc works and attains its objective. Leaders of 27 parties, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC’s Mamata Banerjee, DMK supremo M K Stalin, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, RJD’s Lalu Yadav and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, are slated to attend the INDIA meeting. From the Congress, president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are expected to attend the meet.