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INDIA bloc regional constituents plan Lucknow meet after assembly poll results
Regional constituents of the INDIA alliance plan a Lucknow meeting after the May 4 declaration of assembly poll results in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry to form a pressure group. The group would exclude Congress and aim to attract non-Congress parties such as BJD, BRS, or YSRCP, signaling strategic realignment ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections. The plan involves SP, TMC, JMM, Shiv Sena (UBT), and AAP, with the latter remaining part of the Opposition strategy despite not being in the bloc.
Why It Matters
The move signals potential broadening of the opposition coalition beyond Congress and could influence post-poll strategies ahead of Uttar Pradesh and other key state elections.
Timeline
4 Events
Poll results declared in five states
May 4, 2026
Assembly poll results in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry are declared.
INDIA bloc regional constituents plan Lucknow meeting
April 29, 2026
Key regional constituents of the INDIA alliance plan a meeting in Lucknow after the assembly poll results in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry are declared on May 4 to form a pressure group. The group is described as excluding Congress but capable of attracting parties such as Biju Janata Dal, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, or YSR Congress Party. The proposed pressure group would include SP, TMC, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shiv Sena (UBT), and AAP (which is no longer part of the INDIA bloc but remains part of the Opposition's parliamentary strategy). The choice of Lucknow signals potential backing of Akhilesh Yadav-led SP ahead of Uttar Pradesh polls.
Delhi elections 2025 context
2025
In the 2025 Delhi elections, TMC and SP supported AAP in its tri-corner contest against BJP and Congress.
2024 general election context for UP and INDIA bloc
2024
In the 2024 national polls, Uttar Pradesh delivered SP's best performance with 37 of 80 Lok Sabha seats; Congress rose to six seats from one; BJP's tally fell to 33 from 62 in 2019.