INDIA bloc to 'sit in opposition benches for now', to fight against 'fascist rule' of BJP: Mallikarjun Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Indian National Congress (INC), said that the INDIA bloc will continue to fight against the "fascist rule" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also added that the bloc will take the "appropriate steps" at the "appropriate time" to make sure thatpeople's desire are not ruled out by the BJPgovt.

Amid speculations that the INDIA bloc's efforts in forming the government would make a major political churn after the election outcome, Kharge confirmed that they will sit in the opposition benches for now, various media houses reported citing sources.

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ER Eswaran, General Secretary, Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (KMDK) said, "The mandate is clearly for the INDIA bloc. But the situation is not conducive and numbers are not with us."

Leaders of the INDIA alliance including Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, Raghav Chadha, Sharad Pawar, D Raja, Sanjay Raut, Akhilesh Yadav, Champai Soren, Supriya Sule and others were gathered at Kharge's residence on Wednesday (Jun 5) in Delhi.

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After the meeting, Kharge addressed the media and said, "This is our decision and we altogether agreed on these points and we will keep up with the promises we have given to the people."

Kharge thanked the people of India for the "overwhelming" support and also said that the people's mandate has given a befitting reply to the BJP and their politics of "hate and corruption".

"This is a mandate in defence of the Constitution of India and against price rise, unemployment and crony capitalism and also to save democracy," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)