india-bloc-preps-for-vote-counting-tmc-pdp-absent

Senior leaders of the INDIA bloc convened on Saturday to strategize for the vote counting on June 4, despite the absence of TMC and PDP representatives.

 

Top figures from Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPI-M, CPI, DMK, JMM, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar) gathered at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Saturday afternoon for discussions, as the final phase of polling took place.

 

TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had previously announced that her party would skip the meeting due to ongoing state elections. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also did not attend, citing personal reasons.

 

"I may not go as my mom has undergone an eye surgery," she said.

 

The meeting was attended by prominent opposition leaders including Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Anil Desai, Sitaram Yechury, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, Champai Soren, Kalpana Soren, T R Baalu, Farooq Abdullah, D Raja, and Mukesh Sahani.

 

Congress representatives present included Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and K C Venugopal.

 

"June 4th will mark the beginning of a new dawn for India. In today's meeting of INDIA bloc leaders, DMK will be represented by our party Treasurer and leader of DMK's Parliamentary Party, Thiru. T.R. Baalu avl," DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin posted on 'X.'

 

Kharge noted that this informal meeting focused on preparations for the counting day, emphasizing vigilance regarding EVMs and the use of Form 17C.

 

The gathering was specifically to discuss counting preparations, and Congress has already instructed its state units to be vigilant about Form 17C, he added.

 

The seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections proceeded on Saturday, including in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.