NEW DELHI: Aiming to strengthen the anti-BJP alliance, 24 parties will participate in the second meeting of the opposition parties in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18. 15 parties had participated in the first meeting in Patna.

After the meeting to discuss the seat agreement against the BJP, the parties will organize a demonstration of strength with a Maharally in Delhi.

Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi will host a dinner for opposition leaders on the eve of the meeting. RSP, Forward Bloc, Muslim League, Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Mani), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Party (KDM) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Party (VCK), which were absent in Patna, have been invited.

The Bengaluru meeting comes after a split in Sharad Pawar's NCP. Discussion topics include the preparation of a common agenda, state-level alliances, the timing of joint opposition rallies, formation and name of the opposition alliance. The Aam Aadmi Party had announced that it would boycott the meeting if the Congress did not declare its position on the Delhi Ordinance of the central government.