Anti-Rahul Posters Surface Ahead of INDIA Bloc Meeting

The posters highlighted past remarks made by several Opposition leaders against Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. Statements attributed to NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal were featured.

The development comes amid visible strains within the INDIA bloc alliance.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has decided not to attend the meeting after Congress ended its long-standing partnership with the party and aligned with Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

DMK leader TKS Elangovan expressed dissatisfaction with Congress and claimed that more parties could leave the INDIA bloc due to Congress's actions. He described Congress as a "non-reliable party."

"Our cadres are unhappy with Congress. Congress is calling an INDIA bloc meeting. They have joined the TVK even after winning on our side. They have shifted their allegiance to TVK and stated that in the forthcoming local body and Parliament elections, they will be with TVK and not the INDIA bloc. Then how can our cadres allow us to attend the meeting?" Elangovan said.

"Every party will attack Congress because they were all affected by Congress. I heard that AAP is not attending the meeting. Let's see what Lalu Prasad and others decide. Congress is shifting its allegiance. How can they do that?" he added.

Claiming that the alliance was weakening, Elangovan said, "Most of the parties will quit the INDIA bloc. That is my expectation, because Congress has become a non-reliable party."

Congress has also faced criticism from allies against whom it contested in state Assembly elections, including the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the CPI(M) in Kerala.

The CPI(M) has conveyed its concerns to Congress over what it called a "systematic campaign" against its leadership during the Kerala Assembly polls. However, the party has decided that MP John Brittas will attend the INDIA bloc meeting.

According to senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, 23 political parties will participate in the meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. He maintained that Opposition parties remain "unified."

Mamata Banerjee is expected to attend the meeting in person, while Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray will participate virtually.