Nitish Kumar has been meeting leaders of parties to strengthen opposition unity. (Image: PTI/File)
The notion of a joint fight in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has become stronger as 20 opposition parties unitedly boycotted the inauguration of the new Parliament House by PM Narendra Modi.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will chair the all-important opposition meeting on June 12. The Janata Dal (United) said that the opposition parties would meet in Patna and chalk out a joint strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
JD(U) leader Manjit Singh said on Sunday, “June 12 has been decided for the meeting and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will chair the meeting.” On forming a united opposition front in the past few months to take on the ruling BJP in next year’s elections.
#Watch , Bihar: JDU leader Manjit Singh said on the opposition meeting in Patna, said- June 12 has been fixed for the meeting and CM Nitish Kumar will preside over the meeting. pic.twitter.com/bAcOp1bnDp– ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2023
The notion of a joint fight in the 2024 election has further strengthened as 21 opposition parties came together to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building during the day. Despite heavy criticism by the BJP and its allies, the boycotting party refused to relent on its stand of sidelining President Draupadi Murmu, who is the head of state, for the grand event.
According to media reports, more than 18 like-minded opposition parties will participate in the conference next month, but a senior leader said it was not the main meeting of opposition parties, which will be held much later. Kumar is meeting leaders of parties to forge opposition unity, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, his West Bengal counterpart and TMC boss Mamata Banerjee, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Are. Thackeray, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav among others.
The Bihar CM had earlier volunteered to be a mediator and wants to bring all like-minded opposition parties on board. He has been able to bring together Mamata, Kejriwal and Yadav – all three have expressed reluctance to join hands with the Congress.
Meanwhile, the JD(U) said the meeting to be held on June 12 would “send a message to the entire country that change in the country will begin from Bihar”. Singh added.
Other parties are also holding meetings among themselves. In the past, Mamta and Yadav met to indicate a kind of ‘third front’. But lately, Kejriwal has been meeting leaders of all parties, including his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao, for different reasons and to garner support against the Delhi ordinance.