After the successful Patna conclave of the opposition parties on June 23, the Janata Dal (United) of Bihar has stepped up its activities in the state and officially focusing on Uttar Pradesh for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. JD (U) top leader Nitish Kumar is the Bihar chief minister and is spearheading the campaign for the unity of the opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The JD (U) has started a massive renovation of its office in Lucknow, right behind the Bapu Bhawan housing the state secretariat. The state office of the JD (U) here had been lying in a state of neglect for the past several years. A large group of labourers were seen laying new tiles on the floor, removing the old paint from the wall and putting a coat of fresh paint on the walls of the office.

Nitish Kumar, from the dominant Kurmi Other Backward Classes community, is likely to contest the Lok Sabha election from Phulpur parliamentary constituency, a Kurmi dominated seat. Presently Kesri Devi Patel of the BJP is the MP from this seat in Prayagraj district.

The Bihar JD (U) leaders have also started visiting the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency for firming up the organisation at the grassroots level.

“Soon, the office will be refurbished and have new decor,” said a JD (U) leader.

The renovation work at the JD (U) office in Lucknow gives an indication of the emerging political scenario in Uttar Pradesh. Speculations of an alliance between Samajwadi Party, JD (U), Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Congress are also doing rounds. Officially, the RLD is already a part of the SP alliance.

Though the JD (U) has an insignificant presence in Uttar Pradesh, the party’s state unit office is likely to remain abuzz with activities as the Lok Sabha elections draw near, especially because Nitish Kumar is playing a key role in putting up a united stand against the incumbent BJP.

Party sources said that a meeting of the district unit office-bearers would be held on July 15 to discuss the strategy for the Lok Sabha polls. The district unit leaders will give feedback on the political scenario in the various regions of the state and the plan of the party to strengthen the organisation. Senior JD(U) leader and minister in the Bihar government, Shrawan Kumar, will also be present in the meeting.

JD (U) state unit convener Satyendra Patel said: “The party has started preparation for the Lok Sabha elections. As the party is playing a lead role in  forging the unity of the opposition parties, the party cadre is motivated and soon a series of meetings will be organised across the state to gear up the workers for the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”