Uddhav Thackeray had a question for reporters on Wednesday.

“We (Opposition alliance INDIA) have a number of choices for the post of Prime Minister. How many options do they (the BJP) have?” the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief asked at a news conference held by Maharashtra’s Congress-Sena-NCP coalition in Mumbai.

Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha member from Uddhav’s party, quoted Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee as saying: “The INDIA alliance had two meetings and the BJP has already reduced LPG cylinder prices by Rs 200.”

Uddhav dripped sarcasm: “The way the INDIA alliance is progressing, very soon they (the BJP-led central government) will give away LPG cylinders for free.”

A day before 63 representatives from 28 political parties are to converge in Mumbai for the fledgling INDIA’s third conclave and try to firm up a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls, several of its prominent faces upped the ante against the BJP.

Raut tried to advertise the two-day Mumbai session as the beginning of the end of BJP rule.

“When Lalu Prasadji was asked why he was going to Mumbai, his reply made it clear that he was coming to bring an end to Modi’s autocratic rule,” he said.

NCP veteran Sharad Pawar told the news conference: “My belief is, an alternative forum is getting ready to bring about a change in the country.”

Several of the Opposition leaders broached the Chinese intrusions to corner the Modi government.

“We all know about China’s progress in parts of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.... I can tell you that as the INDIA alliance advances, China will start stepping back,” Raut said.

The statements by the INDIA leaders appeared to adhere to a pattern that strategic management textbooks describe as “posturing”.

Asking not to be identified, a professor who is an expert on the subject said: “At a time there is a narrative to turn the next election into a presidential form of contest by projecting the Prime Minister as the only powerful politician — one who can deliver and whom no one can take on — this posturing by several prominent leaders of the Opposition alliance is a smart idea.”

The saffron ecosystem has over the past few years largely succeeded in creating a narrative, using pliant segments of the media, which asserts that no Opposition leader can match Modi.

If one has to list the most challenging tasks before the INDIA coalition, breaking this perception has to be at the top, the professor said.

Uddhav’s remark about the multiple choices for prime ministerial candidate, and Mamata’s comment later in the day that “INDIA will be the face of the alliance”, appeared intended to deflect the question of “who against Modi”, another strategic management expert said.

Although no clear agenda for the Mumbai session was available to the media till Wednesday evening, sources suggested that the meeting — which follows conclaves in Patna and Bangalore — would throw up “an action plan” to take on the BJP in next year’s Lok Sabha polls.

Opposition leaders, however, dodged reporters’ questions on who will take on Modi, on the seat-sharing formula, or on the possible inclusion of more parties in the alliance.

As these queries were posed at the news conference and then separately to Mamata, who met Amitabh Bachchan in the evening, the leaders said that clarity would emerge only after the meeting.

Sources in the various Opposition parties, however, told this correspondent separately that back-channel discussions were continuing on seat-sharing, and a formula would be worked out soon. No one, however, offered any timetable.

While the Opposition parties are confident that a foolproof plan would be in place before the elections, scheduled next summer, Mamata and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar have expressed fear that the polls might be brought forward.

“Keeping such an eventuality in mind, there’s a pressing need to address the contentious issues.… We must show a sense of urgency,” a source said.