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Posters criticizing the INDIA bloc and targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi surfaced across key locations in the city, including near Ashoka Road and several major intersections. The posters prominently featured old controversial statements attributed to senior opposition leaders, intensifying the political atmosphere ahead of the high-stakes meeting.
One of the posters displayed a remark attributed to Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar, stating that “Rahul Gandhi lacks consistency.” Another poster carried a statement attributed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, reading, “If the Congress cannot run the INDIA bloc, I can run it.”
A separate poster featured Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alongside Rahul Gandhi, quoting Kejriwal as saying, “Do not vote for Congress even by mistake.” In another instance, a poster attributed to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. K. Stalin displayed Rahul Gandhi’s image with the remark, “Congress leaders are like those who drill holes in the boat they travel in.”
The posters collectively questioned the unity of the INDIA bloc, suggesting internal discord with the message that those “fighting among themselves within the alliance cannot fight together on the same platform.”
Soon after the posters came to the attention of Indian Youth Congress workers, they began removing and tearing them down. The incident was captured on video and later shared by the Indian Youth Congress on its official X account, further amplifying the political confrontation.
Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc meeting was held under the chairmanship of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule attended the meeting. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also participated, along with several other prominent opposition leaders.
After the meeting, Mallikarjun Kharge stated that consensus had been reached on raising five key issues collectively. He further announced that the alliance would now hold meetings every two months to strengthen coordination.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also participated virtually and expressed agreement on all discussed issues. The next INDIA bloc meeting is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in August.
The events underscore the escalating political tension within the opposition alliance, as public messaging battles spill onto the streets even while formal coordination efforts continue inside meeting rooms.
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