Uddhav Thackeray to visit Delhi from August 6–8 to attend INDIA bloc leaders' meeting

Shiv Sena (UBT) President, Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

Amid reports of a key INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for August 7, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut confirmed on Monday that party chief Uddhav Thackeray has been invited to the meeting and will be attending it, reported ANI.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "On 7th August, there is a meeting of the INDIA bloc. Rahul Gandhi has extended an invitation for it. He has personally called up everyone and extended an invitation."

Raut further informed that Thackeray will arrive in Delhi on August 6 and remain in the capital until August 8.

"Uddhav Thackeray will come to Delhi on 6th August for the meeting on 7th. He will be in Delhi till 8th August. He will attend the meeting and meet everyone. He will also visit our new party office at the Parliament premises. We will try to meet the tall leaders in Delhi", he added further.

Sources had earlier stated that members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) would gather for a dinner meeting at the residence of Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on August 7, reported ANI.

The announcement of the meeting came shortly after Rahul Gandhi addressed a party conclave on Saturday, alleging that as many as 70-80 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections may have been rigged.

Key issues expected to be discussed at the meeting include the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, alleged voter list manipulation in Maharashtra, Operation Sindoor, trade developments between India and the US, and tariff threats made by former US President Donald Trump.

This will mark the second INDIA bloc meeting since the start of the ongoing Parliament monsoon session. The previous meeting, held virtually on July 19, saw participation from at least 24 opposition leaders including NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, J&K's Omar Abdullah, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, and Uddhav Thackeray, reported ANI.

Meanwhile, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has also confirmed his participation in the upcoming meeting. He said on August 2 that he intends to bring up concerns regarding the Bihar SIR process, which he believes is skewed in favour of the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance.

"The elections in Bihar already have an arrangement that the party currently in power will win. I am going to visit him (Rahul Gandhi), the leaders have been called on August 7, I will find out (about Congress leader's allegations)," Farooq Abdullah told reporters in Jammu, reported ANI.

Communist Party leader D Raja also acknowledged Rahul Gandhi's outreach to various leaders ahead of the meeting. While he confirmed that discussions are ongoing, he noted that "no particular agenda" has been set.

(With inputs from ANI)