With the possibility of the Narendra Modi Government clubbing the Lok Sabha polls with the forthcoming Assembly elections in five States later this year, the Opposition’s Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will concentrate on crucial issues like seat-sharing, setting up of a co-ordination committee and also committees to speed up its activities at various levels and the formation of a team to draft a common minimum programme for the General Elections, at the two-day meeting beginning here on Thursday. Prominent among the leaders attending the meeting will be Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, all from the Congress, Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee (TMC), MK Stalin (DMK), Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Hemant Soren (JMM), RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti of the PDF, Sitaram Yechuri (CPM) and D Raja (CPI).
Though there has been speculation in the media that INDIA may announce its Prime Ministerial face at the two-day meet to be held at  Grand Hyatt hotel in north-west Mumbai, such a thing is unlikely to cross the minds of 63 leaders from 28 political parties attending the conclave, which is the third such meet being held among the leaders after talks in Patna and Bengaluru. The leaders may ponder over issues like a logo for the Opposition grouping and a strategy to keep the flock together in the face of out-of-turn statements being made by certain leaders against their counterparts  from other constituents of the INDIA grouping at the State-level. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who is among the hosts of the Mumbai meet, set the tone for the conclave by declaring that “the people of the country” want a change and that INDIA would provide a viable alternative to bring about the change.
Indicating that there might be seat-sharing talks, Pawar said, “INDIA alliance has so far not initiated talks on seat-sharing.  Beginning tomorrow, we will discuss common minimum programme and delegate responsibilities. We will explore the possibility of bringing more Opposition parties into INDIA’s fold.” 

Sources in the alliance said that at the meeting, INDIA  would chalk out a broad-based formula for seat-sharing, set up State-wise committees to identify the seats to be contested by each of the constituents in the alliance and also finalise a logo for the front.

Keen on roping in BSP supremo Mayawati as a constituent of the alliance, the Opposition leaders may appoint a senior leader to hold talks with her and convince her to join the joint Opposition front.  However, when asked about Mayawati, Pawar chose to remain non-committal. “It is not known on whose side she is. Earlier, we had heard she had a dialogue with the BJP”

On a day when the Peasants and Workers’ party, the number of the political parties went up to 28 as against the tally of 26 parties that attended the second INDIA meet in Bengaluru.       

Interacting with the media, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said: “Today we have 28 parties with us.  Our strength has increased from 26 at Bengaluru meet was 26”.

Describing the NDA as an amoeba that had no shape and size, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said: “Our agenda is to protect the Constitution and throw out dictatorship from the country.. We pledge not to allow any  dictator to come to power again. We will do everything to ensure that the federal structure is destroyed in the country”.

On who is going to be INDIA'S Prime Ministerial candidate, Uddhav said: “We have several choices for PM's post, does the BJP has a choice?”

While espousing the cause of women, Uddhav said: “We will provide a government that will protect the rights of women”.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav indicated that the joint Opposition leaders would discuss matters relating to seat-sharing at the meeting : "Elections are approaching. If candidates have to be decided, we need to sit together."

Replying to a question, Yadav said that the INDIA alliance would decide on the choice of its convenor during the meeting.

 “Eleven sitting Chief Ministers are part of the INDIA alliance. INDIA will take ahead the ideology of Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar and ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj... the challenge before us is to prevent the fascist forces from ruining the country. On Rakshabandhan day, we pledge to protect India,” former chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan said.