Leaders of the INDIA bloc assembled on August 7 at the residence of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. The meeting was organized against a backdrop of heightened political tensions, including allegations regarding the Bihar voter list revision, recent violence in Jammu and Kashmir, and widespread criticism directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut offered a preview of the primary topics for discussion. According to Raut, the meeting would focus on the intricacies of Operation Sindoor, the Pahalgam attack, and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. The INDIA bloc has already raised concerns about the transparency and timing of the revision process, particularly with state elections approaching. KC Venugopal confirmed the bloc’s push for a parliamentary discussion on the issue. Among the attendees were Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, LOP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also participated in the meeting. MNM chief and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan was also present at the INDIA bloc meeting. Congress MP Rajani Patil mentioned that several significant issues were addressed during the meeting, one of which was the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Bihar. She emphasized the necessity of serious consideration of this matter and proposed a comprehensive discussion within Parliament to ensure fairness and transparency in the electoral process. Congress MP Francis George revealed that the INDIA bloc meeting included a presentation by Rahul Gandhi on the SIR issue in Bihar. The presentation highlighted instances of rigging and malpractices during the previous Lok Sabha elections, which resulted in the BJP securing a majority. He affirmed the bloc’s intention to expose the BJP’s conduct to the public.
