Setting aside their bitter differences and regional ambitions, 17 Opposition parties, including the presidents of major political entities like Congress, have resolved to join forces and present a united front for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, fissures emerged as the AAP skipped the meeting and slammed the Congress.
The top Opposition leaders, along with Chief Ministers from six States, convened in Patna on Friday and laid the groundwork for a collaborative strategy to defeat the BJP.
The meeting, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, witnessed the participation of 32 leaders who expressed their commitment to working together and setting aside their differences to challenge the BJP’s dominance.
The joint effort aims to bring about a complete turnaround in the election landscape and restrict the BJP, currently enjoying a strong majority, to less than 200 seats.
The Opposition leaders emphasised their determination to protect the country’s interests and safeguard their ideology while uniting against the BJP-led Government.
However, the meeting didn’t dicuss name of anyone to be projected as the joint Opposition candidate for the post of Prime Minsiter. “No decision taken on PM candidate at Patna Opposition parties’ meet,” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
With their combined strength currently accounting for less than 200 out of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition leaders anticipate a complete turnaround in the electoral landscape if they join forces, potentially limiting the ruling BJP to less than 200 seats. This united effort is aimed at dethroning the BJP, which currently enjoys a formidable majority with over 300 seats.
The outcome of the meeting and the indication that the Oppostion would be able to come together to take on the BJP is a major development that could, make the next year’s Lok Sabha contest exciting.
Addressing a joint Press conference after an extensive four-hour meeting during which leaders expressed their views, Nitish, “We had a good meeting, and several leaders expressed their views during the meeting. Seventeen parties have decided to work together and contest the Lok Sabha elections unitedly.” He was flanked by his alliance partner RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee, Hemant Soren, and M K Stalin, among others. The meeting is viewed as the beginning of Opposition unity ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls, with the aim of collectively challenging the BJP-led Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nitish emphasised that their efforts were driven by the national interest, accusing the BJP of working against the country’s welfare and attempting to rewrite India’s history.
“Very positive talks were held today and we have decided to contest (Lok Sabha polls) together. Another meeting of all the (Opposition) parties will be held to decide the next course of action. In that meeting, almost everything will be finalised. Kharge will chair that meeting early next month,” on his part, Nitish told media.
About the propsoed Shimla conclave, Kharge said, “We have decided to prepare a common agenda and will take decisions in the next meeting on how to move forward. We will have to evolve separate plans for every State, and we will work together to dethrone the BJP at the Centre.” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated, they may have some differences but they have decided to work together with flexibility and will work to protect the country’s ideology. “It is a battle of ideologies. Indeed, there will be differences amongst us but we have decided to work together and protect the ideologies shared by us,” he said.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee said, “The first meet was organised in Patna as ‘whatever starts from Patna, takes the shape of the public movement.’ If this dictatorial Government (NDA) returns this time, there will be no elections in the future.” She added, “We all are united and will fight unitedly against BJP. The BJP wants to change history, but we’ll ensure that history is saved.”
Mamata, whose stand is significant and crucial for the sake of Opposition unity, also asserted that they were not opposition parties but citizens of the country who are patriotic and love ‘Bharat Mata.’ Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren said, “Today’s beginning will prove to be a milestone for the country, and all leaders will move together with a positive thinking.”
SP leader and former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav said, “The message from the Patna meeting is clear for all of us that we need to work together to save the country.”
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar said, “Just like JP movement, our united front will get blessings of public”.
PDP leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti after the Opposition meet said, “We can’t let Gandhi’s India to become Godse’s country”.
“17 parties from Kashmir to Kanyakumari have come together not for power, but for principles. We have met to save the country from devastation and to bring democracy back. I and Mehbooba belong to that part of the country where democracy is murdered...Yesterday in America there were discussions about democracy in the White House...why this democracy doesn’t reach Jammua nd Kashmir...”, NC leader Omar Abdullah said after Opposition meet.