New Delhi-: All opposition parties are set to meet in Patna on June 23 to plan a strategy for the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections and Fight against BJP jointly. The Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD Chief Laloo Prasad Yadav have been at the forefront of endeavors to unite all opposition parties in Patna against the BJP government.
With an objective of forming a Non-NDA government at the Centre in 2024, Nitish Kumar has invited all big leaders of the opposition parties like NCP President Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, CPI leader D Raja, CPM leader Sitaram Yetchuri and Dipankar Bhattacharya of CPI (M-L). The RJD Chief Laloo Prasad Yadav who was not in the background from so many years due to health issues will also be attending the meet. Senior JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar told the reporters that “ Laluji aayenge…laluji ko aana hi hai” He is also a member of the organizing committee. In Fact RJD and JD(U) are jointly organizing this meet in Patna. RJD spokesperson, Shakti Singh Yadav said Laloo ji’s presence will boost the morale of the opposition. According to some political Analyst “ it is because of the joint efforts of Laloo Prasad and Nitish Kumar that so many big leaders of the opposition parties are gathering together.
As per the sources the opposition will not only discuss coalition strategies but will also try to field a common candidate against the BJP. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibbal has already said few days back that a “Congress led UPA government is very much possible in 2024”. Former Union Minister Manish Tiwari believes that UPA must unite on the basis of ideologies to oust the BJP led government from the Centre.
The opposition meet will also identify the common issues and may prepare a Common Minimum Program (CMP). According to the sources, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar might be asked to draft a CMP if all opposition parties are comfortable on it. Some suggest CMP can be made just before the Elections not now. The key issues of the meet will be Federalism, misuse of investigative agencies, Delhi Ordinance, alleged assault on Constitution, Price rise etc.
This will be the first meeting in Patna after which the venue for second meeting will also be decided. According to a leader another meeting can be held in Shimla or Chennai.
