Patna: Following the first meeting of the Opposition parties to forge a common front against the ruling BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Patna today, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, while addressing a press meet, said that all the leaders have agreed to fight unitedly against current regime in the Centre.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge further informed that the next meet in Shimla will finalise the modalities of the front. This comes despite differences between AAP and the Congress during the meeting, where the former made it clear that it would be “very difficult” for it to be part of an alliance until the Grand Old Party denounced the Centre’s ordinance in Delhi.
Reacting to the meet, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah calling it a “photo session” and saying that the various Opposition parties can never be united. BJP MP Sushil Modi said, “This is a ‘Gathbandhan of Thugs’. They are preparing to fool the country. They have no principle, or policy and all are involved in corruption”.
Raising the pitch for a united Opposition front in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that “Congress’ ideology can never be separated from Bihar”. He also said that Rahul Gandhi was instrumental in bringing together Opposition leaders from across the country. Kharge added, “If we win Bihar, we will win India. Kharge was addressing party workers at the Congress office in Patna, ahead of the joint Opposition meeting.
Calling the opposition meet held in Patna today ‘fruitful’, Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said at a joint press briefing that it is so significant that it marks the beginning of history. She confirmed that the opposition leaders will fight the 2024 elections together apart from that the Round 2 of the said meet will be held next month in Shimla.
