Current Matters News
Srinagar, June 23: With most of the opposition parties coming together for a meet in Bihar’s capital Patna today on the invitation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, nothing much is expected to come out from this.
Due to the diverse opinion on several issues, mostly by state-centric parties whose interest lies in regional politics, it will be a herculean task for Nitish Kumar to bring everyone onboard ahead of 2024 general elections.
The opposition meeting in Patna today is expected to be attended by Nitish Kumar, RJD leaders Lalu Yadav and Tejaswi Yadav, Congress President Malikarjun Kharge, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, AAP convenor and New Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, People’s Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti, NC vice president Omar Abdullah, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and many more leaders.
But the only achievement ahead of this first ever meeting of opposition parties is that Kumar has been able to bring together likes of Mamta Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav and Congress party.
These regional parties have been critical of Congress party in the recent past and especially of Rahul Gandhi, for failing to stand against BJP and giving the ruling party a fight. So far Trinamol Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have been able to keep the saffron brigade out from their states but in Uttar Pradesh SP wasn’t able to make any dent to BJP in Assembly elections. BJP retained UP and in upcoming 2024 general elections UP and Bihar, the Hindi-speaking belt alongside Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, will be setting the tone as who will sit on the throne in New Delhi.
Akhilesh Yadav has been facing pressure of joining hands with Congress party for 2024 elections and from within his party few leaders are also pushing for it.
Meanwhile, the presence of leaders from Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah is also of great importance as political parties in J&K have been waiting for holding of Assembly elections since long but BJP government is shying away. Though J&K doesn’t have big stake in Lok Sabha elections but this UT specific issues have a lasting impact on elections all over India. The 2024 general elections will be first after downgrading J&K to Union Territory and removing Article 370.
Now, all eyes would be on this opposition meet in Patna and people will be waiting as whether these parties will be able to form an alliance by keeping their differences away.
