Leaders of the INDIA alliance gathered on Monday to discuss strategy and coordination, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi making a strong case for greater unity among opposition parties ahead of future political battles.

Addressing alliance members, Gandhi emphasised that opposition parties would be more effective if they worked together rather than engaging in conflicts among themselves. He reportedly cautioned partners against targeting one another and argued that maintaining solidarity was essential to counter the BJP politically.

During his remarks, Gandhi is understood to have expressed concerns about the level of support received from some alliance members on issues raised by the Congress, including allegations related to electoral irregularities and voter list revisions. He also reportedly criticised parties that continue to attack the Congress while remaining part of the broader opposition coalition.

According to sources, some of his comments were viewed as directed towards parties such as Mamata Banerjee's All India Trinamool Congress and Left parties, although no names were publicly mentioned during the discussions.

A key outcome of the meeting was an agreement among alliance partners to approach the judiciary over concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and alleged discrepancies in voter rolls. The bloc plans to submit a formal representation to the Chief Justice of India seeking attention to the issue.

Gandhi reportedly argued that recent election results demonstrated that the BJP was not politically invincible and that opposition parties should focus on building collective strength rather than allowing internal disagreements to dominate the alliance.

He pointed to the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP emerged as the single largest party but secured fewer seats than in the previous election, while the Congress improved its tally significantly compared to its earlier performance.

Alliance leaders also highlighted recent instances where opposition parties had successfully coordinated their efforts inside Parliament. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge cited the Opposition's united stand against the government's Delimitation Bill in the Lok Sabha as an example of effective collaboration.

Kharge argued that the same level of coordination should now be extended to addressing broader political, economic, social and foreign policy issues facing the country. He said the alliance needed to strengthen cooperation and maintain momentum in order to challenge the ruling government's policies.

The meeting took place shortly after elections in four states, which produced mixed results for major political parties. The BJP formed governments in Assam and West Bengal, while the Congress secured victory in Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Vijay emerged as a major political force.

The INDIA alliance, formed three years ago as a coalition of opposition parties, also decided to institutionalise regular consultations. Leaders agreed to meet once every two months, with the next gathering scheduled to take place in Hyderabad in August.

The latest discussions signal an effort by opposition parties to strengthen coordination and present a more united front as they prepare for upcoming political contests across the country.