Overview

• D. Raja urged Left parties to present a common ideological banner, expand mass engagement, and connect with younger voters through digital platforms.
• He framed the BJP’s 2014 victory as a qualitative shift in Indian politics and accused the BJP-RSS of weakening Parliament, the judiciary, federalism, the media, and scientific institutions.
• Pointing to last year’s Lok Sabha results, he said the INDIA bloc cut the BJP’s tally to 240 but warned that the Opposition needs greater cohesion, clarity, and a common agenda.
• The Congress opened with the national flag hoisted by Dr Jagmohan Singh and the CPI flag by Bhupinder Sambar, paid tributes to party stalwarts, and drew over 900 delegates to a venue whose spaces were named in their honor.
• Palestinian ambassador Abdullah Shahwaish and Cuban ambassador Juan Aguilera addressed the evening session with sharp critiques of U.S. and Israeli policies, as leaders of CPI(M), CPI(ML), AIFB, and RSP extended greetings for Left unity.