The INDIA bloc convened its first formal meeting in several months in New Delhi on Monday, as opposition parties sought to assess their recent electoral setbacks and discuss a roadmap for the political battles ahead.
The meeting, held at the Constitution Club of India, comes after a difficult round of assembly elections for the opposition alliance. The BJP secured a landmark victory in West Bengal and retained Assam for a third consecutive term, strengthening its position ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
According to reports, the meeting was convened at the request of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which suffered a major political blow after losing power in West Bengal following a 15-year stint in government. The development has also triggered internal unrest within the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
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Opposition looks to regroup after electoral reverse
The gathering is expected to focus on analysing the alliance's performance in recent elections, identifying organisational challenges and evolving a coordinated strategy against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Ahead of the meeting, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said 23 parties would participate in the discussions. He acknowledged that some alliance partners had chosen not to attend but maintained that they continued to share concerns over the policies and actions of the Narendra Modi government.
23 political parties have confirmed participation in the INDIA janbandhan meeting at Constitution Club, New Delhi on Monday June 8, 2026, at 12 noon. There are some parties who have expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons - even though…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 7, 2026
In a post on X, Ramesh said the absent parties remained united in opposing issues ranging from alleged attacks on democratic institutions and opposition leaders to inflation, unemployment and economic challenges. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was expected to join the meeting virtually.
Key allies stay away
The meeting is also being overshadowed by visible strains within the opposition alliance. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) announced that it would skip the gathering, citing what it described as Congress' "betrayal" following a political realignment in Tamil Nadu. The Congress recently joined hands with actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a move that strained its long-standing relationship with the DMK.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also reportedly absent from the meeting.
INDIA Bloc Meeting at Constitution Club of India in New Delhi ANI Meanwhile, tensions between the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have resurfaced after CPM general secretary M A Baby sought clarification from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over remarks made during the Kerala Assembly election campaign. The CPM objected to allegations from some Congress leaders suggesting an understanding between the Left party and the BJP in Kerala.
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Differences have also emerged between the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) after the Congress reportedly announced a candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections without prior consultation.
Alliance faces test of unity
Monday's meeting is being viewed as a crucial test of the INDIA bloc's ability to maintain cohesion after a challenging electoral cycle. While opposition leaders continue to project unity against the BJP, the absence of key regional players and unresolved disputes among allies are likely to feature prominently in discussions.
The outcome of the meeting may offer the clearest indication yet of how the opposition plans to rebuild momentum and strengthen coordination ahead of future electoral contests.
