New Delhi:

Mocking the recently concluded meeting of the four INDIA blocs, alliance leader and JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar Pintu on Wednesday said the meeting was just a cup of tea and biscuits and ended without discussion on any serious issue.

Speaking to news agency ANI, JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar Pintu said, “In yesterday's meeting, top leaders of several parties came to share the alliance. tea and biscuits.

Highlighting the Congress' claim that it is short of funds, the JD(U) MP said, “They sought a contribution of Rs 138, Rs 1380 or Rs 13,800. The contribution has not arrived.” So, yesterday's meeting just ended with tea and biscuits, no samosas and without discussing any serious matters. »

After several media reports claimed that Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United (JDU) supremo Nitish Kumar was “unpleased” with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's nomination as prime ministerial candidate, the Congress rejected this proposal, stating that the meeting had ended in a ” good note.”

“The meeting lasted five to six hours. This meeting is very important and effective. It ended well. If some media claims that Nitish Kumarji is not happy with the meeting, there may be some “interest”, but I think he is the organizer of the alliance and will achieve his goals, said Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir.

Earlier, the fourth meeting of the opposition bloc 'Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA)' ended with the adoption of a resolution on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and suspension of Members of Parliament.

The meeting also comes amid rising political tensions between the opposition and the BJP-led central government, sparked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's demand for a statement on the recent security breaches in Parliament.

All 28 parties participated in our fourth meeting and presented their thoughts to the alliance committee. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said a resolution has been passed that suspension of MLAs is undemocratic.

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections just four months away, seat distribution has become crucial for the Congress, especially after the setback in the recent elections. Meanwhile, the opposition alliance failed to reach a consensus on the bloc's prime ministerial candidate. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharga said any decision on the prime ministerial candidate would be taken after the elections.

“No such information was disclosed,” he added.

Earlier in the day, INDIA bloc leaders held a meeting at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.

After the meeting, CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem informed that the INDIA alliance will hold a protest on December 22.

“The Indian Alliance has decided to hold a protest dharna at Jantar Mantar,” he said.

The parties in INDIA (Indian Inclusive National Development Alliance) are seeking to mount a unified fight against the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The first meeting of the joint opposition was held in Patna on June 23 and the second meeting was held in Bangalore on the 17th and July 18. The third meeting was held in Mumbai from 31 August to 1 September.

At a meeting in Mumbai, the opposition parties passed a resolution to collectively contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, while announcing that seat-sharing arrangements would be finalized as soon as possible in the spirit of give and take.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)