Kapil Sibal refused an opportunity to affix the Samajwadi Party after he give up the Congress (File)

Mumbai:

Congress leaders on the mega opposition assembly in Mumbai – the INDIA conclave – have been miffed after ex-leader Kapil Sibal‘s surprising entry, sources advised NDTV Friday morning. Mr Sibal, who give up the get together final 12 months as a result of he wished to “not hang on coattails of any party”, was not an official invitee and his presence has upset ex-colleagues, sources added.

Senior Congress chief KC Venugopal has complained about Mr Sibal’s presence to ex-Maharashtra minister Uddhav Thackeray earlier than a photograph op of opposition leaders. Mr Thackeray’s Shiv Sena UBT is internet hosting the INDIA bloc assembly.

Other senior leaders – National Conference boss Farooq Abdullah and the Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav tried to intervene, persuading Mr Venugopal to just accept Mr Sibal’s presence at a gathering that goals at uniting all opposition politicians forward of subsequent 12 months’s election. Significantly, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi mentioned he had no objection, sources advised NDTV.

Eventually, Mr Sibal – who’s now an impartial Rajya Sabha MP – was additionally made a part of the picture op.

A 20-second video shared by information company PTI on X (previously Twitter) confirmed Nationalist Congress Party Working President Supriya Sule warmly welcoming Mr Sibal – whereas a voice off-camera shouts for “security”.

The video additionally exhibits Mr Thackeray and Shiv Sena UBT troubleshooter Sanjay Raut speaking earnestly to a person who appears to be Mr Venugopal. Mr Raut is deep in dialog and factors sometimes to Mr Sibal (now off-camera).

In different visuals from the assembly, Mr Sibal can be seen speaking to Punjab Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Bhagwant Mann.

Visuals of Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, NCP working president Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Sanjay Raut at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai forward of the INDIA alliance assembly. pic.twitter.com/vNIZshXMlz

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 1, 2023

Key Decisions Likely At INDIA Bloc Meet

Following conferences in Patna and Bengaluru, the (now) 28-party INDIA group started its three-day meet in Mumbai this week, the place they’re anticipated to work out a plan to fight Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party.

READ | Key Decisions Likely At INDIA Bloc’s 3rd Meet In Mumbai Today: 10 Facts

Among different key selections which may be introduced are the emblem of the brand new grouping, appointment of spokespersons, and sub-groups to deal with numerous departments. There has additionally been discuss of a Common Minimum Programme and hypothesis over who is likely to be the prime ministerial face of the alliance.

Flashback: When Kapil Sibal Quit Congress

Mr Sibal, a former union minister, give up the Congress on May 16 final 12 months, a day after the get together’s “Chintan Shivir”, or brainstorming meet, to debate revival efforts following crushing election defeats and a collection of inner crises.

The latter included considerations raised by Mr Sibal as a part of the “G-23”, or group of 23 dissenters who had known as for sweeping adjustments within the Congress. In the months resulting in his exit, Mr Sibal mentioned “the leadership (the Gandhis) is in cuckooland”.

READ | “Everyone Has To Think About Themselves”: Kapil Sibal On Quitting Congress 

“It is always difficult when you are with a party for so long and wedded to its ideology. Every person has to think for himself… time for him to do something different.” he advised NDTV then.