Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 28: Even as the prime minister Narendra Modi is meeting the chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states to discuss preparations for the 2024 Parliamentary elections among other issues, the opposition parties are likely to meet in Patna on June 12 in a bid to forge a unity to take on the ruling party.
The Grand Alliance (GA) leaders said at least 18 like-minded parties would attend the meeting. The meeting is being planned in a bid to unite Opposition forces against the BJP)-led government at the Centre before the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
The Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who has volunteered to work to bring the opposition parties together against the BJP, confirmed the date of the meeting. “The CM said opposition unity meeting of all like-minded parties will be held in June tentatively around June 12 and we have to gear up to present a united front,” said a JD (U) office-bearer. Kumar, however, did not interact with the media.
The decision on the date of the meeting comes close on the heels of 20 opposition parties’ decision to boycott the opening of the new Parliament building by the Prime Minister on Sunday. The parties have accused the central government of ignoring President Droupadi Murmu, saying as the First citizen of the country, she should have rightfully led the inauguration ceremony.
“It is going to be a preparatory meeting and the main meeting would be held later,” said a GA leader.
The idea to hold the meeting in Patna was mooted by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her meeting with Kumar in April as it was from here that late Jai Prakash Narayan had started his ‘Total Revolution movement’ against the Congress government.
Recently, after the swearing-in ceremony of the Karnataka Congress government, Kumar held a fresh round of talks with Congress president Malikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier in May, Kumar also met NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai to take them in confidence in his mission to unite the opposition.
Mamata Banerjee has already accepted the “One-On-One” strategy pitched by Kumar and JD (U) has already recognised nearly 475 seats where united opposition can enter into a direct fight with the BJP.
Modi soon after inaugurating the new Parliament building, presided over the meeting with the BJP chief ministers. During the meeting, the Chief Ministers will report to Prime Minister Modi about the development work going on in the states. There will also be a discussion with all the Chief Ministers regarding the preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha were present at the meeting on Sunday.
Kumar is planning to bring all like-minded opposition parties on board and has been successful getting Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav — who have been hawkish about the Congress — to sign up. Mamata Banerjee has already accepted the “One-On-One” strategy pitched by Kumar.
Strong regional parties should take on the BJP in 2024 on their home turfs and in turn, they would back the Congress in the 200-odd seats where the two national parties are in direct contest, she has said.